This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 379 Fairy, Be Careful!

The Integration Stage in the Upper Three Realms is known as the Grandmaster Stage. After Yan Xuanhe severed the heavens with his sword, the Upper Three Realms became blurred, and only those with exceptional talent and great fortune could attain this stage.

For the current Qianyuan Realm, the Upper Three Realms are too ethereal, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is insufficient to support their existence. To become a Grandmaster, one must seek a way out from the Three Thousand Worlds.

The three realms above are difficult to surpass; those who reach the profound mysteries become grandmasters and the pinnacle of the world.

Below the Grandmaster level, those at the Nascent Soul stage can be considered top-tier experts, powerful figures who hold sway over a region.

Wushuang Palace and Jianxinzhai have profound foundations and are not lacking in top experts. Both of the Nascent Soul stage cultivators who participated in the battle have remarkable swordsmanship.

One person used sword energy to condense water into a mirror, in which three thousand strands of black hair moved without wind, each hair tip swirling with tiny sword glints, like a cascading Milky Way. The sword's momentum changed again, and a phantom of a blue lotus appeared, its twelve petals opening, each petal containing the intent of the sword.

Jianxinzhai is half Taoist and half Buddhist, practicing both. Judging from the Zen-like insights contained in the swordplay of this female cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, it can be known that her cultivation method leans towards Buddhism.

Xiang Yuan sensed the essence of the laws of heaven and earth and looked at the female cultivator. He noticed that her appearance was similar to that of Lingyu Jushi, Sima Qingyan's master, both wearing monk's robes. He recalled his past experiences, such as seeking medicine and medical treatment at Jianxinzhai and being studied by a group of four female physicians.

As I pondered this, a question popped into my head: Had A-Ping paid off her mountain of debt?

On the other side, the female cultivator from Wushuang Palace, her robes fluttering, caused the ground three zhang around her to crack and melt, and scorching golden-red sword light burst forth, forming a great sun sword wheel above her head.

As it rotates, the high temperature and heat waves distort the air, and the ground beneath our feet melts into glass, reflecting thousands of dazzling golden lights.

Both possessed considerable skill. They clashed swords in mid-air. One's swordsmanship was natural, his sword strikes like a rain of flowers, while the other was fierce and domineering, his sword strikes accompanied by the sun.

The sword light clashed several times, illuminating the two figures, like startled swans dancing, making Xiang Yuan clearly realize that the wind has shape and the light has weight.

Thinking that this sword competition would last for another half a month, Xiang Yuan suddenly realized that it wasn't so boring after all, at least the audio-visual effects were top-notch.

But soon, Xiang Yuan found himself in a state of boredom and tedium.

His standards were too high; a sword fight at the Nascent Soul stage level was unlikely to pique his interest, and even a first-rate visual spectacle was just so-so after a while.

This sword fighting is going to last for another half month!

How about we make a deal? Let's skip the preliminaries and go straight to the king against the king. We'll throw out four grandmasters, finish the fight on the same day, and call it a day. That way, we won't interfere with our cultivation or our fun. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Xiang Yuan knew that this was something to think about but not to act on. He agreed, but Jianxinzhai on the other side would definitely not.

For both sects, this sword competition is of great significance. For many Nascent Soul stage cultivators, the opportunity to spar with other experts of the same realm is rare and hard to come by. They would beg for a sect even on their knees, so why would they skip it?

“This is rather boring. Go tell Wushuang Palace to start the Grandmaster Sword Competition right away,” Shang Qingmeng said to Qin Zhaorong expressionlessly.

"Senior Sister, Wushuang Palace will not agree."

Qin Zhaorong said with embarrassment, "Not to mention the great significance of this sword competition, it is a rare opportunity for many of my fellow disciples to test their own cultivation through the competition. We cannot ruin their chance."

Zi Ping nodded in agreement. This was a sword competition, not the Sword Heart Hall, so the senior sister couldn't do whatever she wanted.

Shang Qingmeng heeded Qin Zhaorong's advice and immediately felt bored, turning her gaze to the distant Fire Dragon Forbidden Land.

This time, without consulting Qin Zhaorong, he pointed to Cheng Jian and extended an invitation to 'Yin Shuang' of the Wushuang Palace camp, asking her to join him in seeking opportunities.

The invitation, brimming with menace, was a pretext for seeking an opportunity; the real purpose was to set aside the sword-fighting tournament and have a private duel.

"Senior Sister..." x2
Qin Zhaorong and Ziping were immediately dumbfounded. The sword competition had only just begun, and there was plenty of time. This move was too hasty. Not only would they be rejected by the wary Wushuang Palace, but they would also be ridiculed by the other party for being impatient.

Qin Zhaorong: It would be a miracle if that Yinshuang agreed.

Zi Ping: The other side was already wary, and will only be more cautious from now on.

The two women were certain that the other side would not agree.

"So fast……"

That's true. Given her personality, she wouldn't be herself if she could hold back.

Xiang Yuan caught the sword light with his fingers and noticed Shang Qingmeng's murderous invitation. He thought to himself, "Just as I thought." Shang Qingmeng saw through his disguise and, unable to bear it any longer, asked him to go to a corner for a private chat.

"Senior Sister!" x2
Xiao Lingyue was surprised by Shang Qingmeng's decisive actions. The fairy Shang, who had severed her seven emotions and six desires, was indeed a decisive person.

Dao Xue was worried and said, "Shang Qingmeng has ill intentions. Even an invitation letter is full of murderous intent. She is pretending to search for treasure, but her real intention is to humiliate my Wushuang Palace by asking for a sword fight. Senior Sister, you must not act rashly."

We have no choice but to go for it!
Xiang Yuan sighed. Shang Qingmeng had legs—long, straight, and as white as jade, and remarkably strong…

That's not the point. The point is that if he doesn't go over, Shang Qingmeng will come and reveal his name to his face, and things will get out of hand today.

Shang: Xiang Yuan, what are you doing at Wushuang Palace?

Xiao: Husband, do you know Fairy Shang?

Shang: Husband?

Just thinking about it made Xiang Yuan's scalp tingle, but he remained calm and said, "The invitation has already been delivered. If I don't accept it, I will be ridiculed by Jianxinzhai. My personal reputation is a small matter, but the reputation of the sect is a big one. I must go."

At this point, he added, "Don't worry, junior sisters. Before leaving the mountain gate, the Palace Master bestowed upon me a magic treasure to protect me. Shang Qingmeng's actions were somewhat self-humiliating."

Dao Xue's expression softened considerably upon hearing this.

Xiao Lingyue was different. The Palace Master had given Xiang Yuan far more than just one magic weapon; he had given her everything he could and couldn't give her.

If they keep giving, they'll have to have Xiang Yuan's baby!

Xiao Lingyue shook her head repeatedly, trying to dispel the disrespectful thoughts in her mind. Her master was pure and virtuous, her husband was not interested in women, and she had no master sister.

Having recently experienced too many upsetting events and nearly been bullied in person, Xiao Lingyue was far more wary than before. She glanced at the Sword Heart Sect's camp opposite her and transmitted her voice to Yuan, instructing him: "The treasure hunt is a pretense; the real purpose is to duel with swords. Fairy Shang is single-mindedly devoted to the sword and has no regrets. You must not defeat her easily, or she will see you as a target to chase."

Several more demands followed. Losing would damage the reputation of Wushuang Palace, which was inappropriate. A draw would also lead to entanglement, which was even more inappropriate. The goal was to cut off any possibility of Shang Qingmeng continuing to pester them, without either winning, losing, or drawing a draw.

"Madam, your request... is somewhat unreasonable."

Xiang Yuan's face darkened. He couldn't win, he couldn't lose, and he couldn't even draw. What kind of genius client was this? Did they really not treat programmers like human beings?
Xiao Lingyue was speechless for a moment. She was not an unreasonable and willful woman, but she was just too anxious about the crisis recently. She stammered and did not know how to answer. In the end, she told Xiang Yuan to handle it. Anyway, it was not right.

"Okay, I'll try my best to do it."

Xiang Yuan feigned a headache, slowly rose into the air, nodded to Shang Qingmeng opposite him, shifted space, and headed straight for the Fire Dragon Abyss.

Shang Qingmeng remained calm, instructed Qin Zhaorong and Ziping to have a proper sword fight, and then used spatial teleportation to escape.

"No way, she actually agreed..."

Qin Zhaorong's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She racked her brains but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation.

"Senior sister, what do you think?"

"You're asking me? Who should I ask?" Zi Ping was still puzzled, wondering where to find an explanation.

"If it's about the Tongyou stage, who else should I ask if not you, Junior Sister?"

Qin Zhaorong raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Oh right, I forgot that Senior Sister's ability to communicate with the spirits comes from enlightenment, a state of mutual benefit. Yours is called being a pillar in the middle of the stream, taking a shortcut to cultivation. You may not really understand the matters of a grandmaster."

Zi Ping: ()
You sharp-tongued little thing, I'll beat you to death today.

Boom!
"oops!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Fire Dragon's Desolation Ground.

The vast expanse of red earth was scorched like a prison.

Above, the sky hangs low, the clouds crimson; below, the earth scorches, the dryness seeps into the bones. Under the red light, the air distorts, and blood mist permeates the heavens and earth. Distant mountains appear as swaying reflections in the water.

Further into the desolate depths, lava forms lakes, crimson waves surge, and tongues of fire spew forth with explosions like rolling thunder. If an ordinary person were to step on them, their skin would be charred and their flesh torn apart in an instant, making it difficult to control the heat.

Xiang Yuan entered the arena dressed in black, inhaling a breath of pungent, choking, and hot poisonous gas. The medicinal effect was mediocre, with little value for refining.

This is a good omen. Bai Wuyan's words are true; there is indeed an opportunity within the Small Cave Heaven.

Poison contains fire, and the opportunity corresponds to the element of fire in the Five Elements. Xiang Yuan had barely stood still when Shang Qingmeng arrived in a white dress. In the world of scorched earth, her jade-like beauty exuded a cold and aloof aura, like ancient ice, which dispelled much of the heat in the air.

Xiang Yuan could tell from Shang Qingmeng's cold expression that she was really angry. He was at his wit's end and thought to himself that Laozi's Tao Te Ching was unreliable. It was supposed to be about following the natural way, but it had been exposed as a lie in the first place.

Just as Xiang Yuan was struggling with how to start the conversation, Shang Qingmeng pointed her fingers into a sword shape and said calmly, "Sword Heart Sect, Shang Qingmeng, Senior Sister Yinshuang, where is your sword?"

Can we not fight?

Let's sit down and have a good chat. Listen to me ramble for ten minutes.

See the female cultivators over at Wushuang Palace? The youngest and most beautiful one is Xiang's fiancée. That's right, I really do have a fiancée. I wasn't lying to you before.

Xiang Yuan thought for a moment and decided that he couldn't tell the truth, at least not now. The sword tournament had just begun, and he couldn't let it end in a farce.

Make up a lie...

One lie requires a thousand lies to cover it up. Xiang Yuan, who is in the future, disagrees, saying that he can't bear everything and that he really can't carry the burden anymore.

"Senior Sister Yinshuang, there's no need to worry. Our sword duel is not part of this tournament, so it won't affect the outcome regardless of who wins or loses." Shang Qingmeng urged impatiently, telling Yinshuang to hurry up. They were already here, so what was there to worry about?

She was really bored and finding a suitable opponent was not easy, so she continued, "One of my junior sisters from the Sword Heart Sect met you once in Zhen Dian Prefecture. With your cultivation level, you were no match for me. It was only because you possessed a rare treasure from the Peerless Palace that I could not see through you. You can bring out this item to fight with your sword, which will not affect the fair competition."

"???"

What do you mean? Didn't you see it?
This is outrageous! You didn't even notice something so obvious? Don't you love me anymore?
Xiang Yuan's expression was strange. Judging from Shang Qingmeng's words, she wasn't there to chat privately with 'Xiang Yuan'. She was just bored in the low-level games and wanted to play a high-level game for some excitement.

If you mention this, he won't be sleepy anymore!
As expected of Lao Tzu, the Daoist principle of following nature is reliable, and the value of the Tao Te Ching remains consistently high.

"I possess the Palace Master's possessions, and I have never told anyone else about them. As expected of the Fairy Merchant who has severed all emotions and desires, you still managed to discover my secret despite how deeply I concealed it." Xiang Yuan quickly regained his composure and formed a sword with his fingers, manifesting a great sun sword light.

The Peerless Palace gave too much, especially to Bai Wuyan and Xiao Lingyue. Xiang Yuan learned the laws of heaven and earth related to the Peerless Palace's inheritance, which merged and merged with the inheritance of Chan'er's Silver Moon Palace. Among the Nine Paths of Asking Heaven, there is already a move called "Sun and Moon in the Same Sky".

Separating the sun and moon, his Great Sun Sword Technique is also extraordinary, more than enough to impersonate a disciple of the Peerless Palace.

To my shame, his achievements were not the result of a single day's work, but rather the result of hard work and dedication.

The Great Sun Sword resounded, like the rising sun in the east. The golden crow patrolled the sky, blooming with a dazzling halo. A wisp of sword light spread out, and the light and heat surged and flowed, piercing straight towards Shang Qingmeng's brow.

Good swordsmanship!

A white light surged in Shang Qingmeng's eyes as she used her sword finger to shatter the incoming sword light.

Suddenly, Xiang Yuan's sword stance changed. The golden crow phantom roared and soared into the sky. The sword light, condensed to its extreme, manifested as a great sun. Amidst countless rays of light, blazing white light burst forth, overflowing with light and heat as vast as a celestial river pouring down.

Wherever it passed, the air burned away, forming a vacuum sword track. The lightless sword pierced through it and once again stabbed towards Shang Qingmeng's brow.

What profound swordsmanship!

Shang Qing dreamt of hunting with joy, and it was no exaggeration to say that she had severed all emotions and desires. Putting aside the black mark of her stumbling over Xiang Yuan, her sword heart was pure and flawless, and she truly possessed the cultivation level of being one with the sword.

With a flick of her finger, Shang Qingmeng used the power of heaven and earth to draw upon the Dao Sword realm, transforming the formless into the tangible, and the inaction into the action. In the end, an invisible sword light burst forth.

Before the sword even arrived, its power was already overwhelming, filling the surroundings and creating a hazy, flickering illusion of sword light in the space.

The two swords clashed, splitting the red clouds in the sky in two. A raging gale swept through the clouds, pushing them like a vast ocean of waves to either side.

On the earth, magma boiled and surged, sending up towering columns of black smoke.

The fight ended in a draw. Shang Qingmeng's beautiful face turned slightly solemn. With a flick of her wrist, she took out the magic weapon Jiangxiao Sword. Strange phenomena appeared all around her, and her aura surged continuously.

Xiang Yuan didn't have any sword magic weapon that matched the Wushuang Palace's inheritance, so he continued to fight Shang Qingmeng bare-handed. He could win, but if he won this fight, Xiao Lingyue would be depressed and misunderstand that he was flirting with girls outside.

I really didn't flirt this time!
He had flirted with her before, and he was the one who was flirted with.

It's just a sword-wielding magic weapon from the Peerless Palace; he doesn't have it, but he can borrow it.

Xiang Yuan's eyes burst forth with the light of the sun, and with a wave of his hand, he dispersed into the void, drawing out a long sword of ethereal beauty emanating from a woman.

The Sword of No Calamity!
Don't ask Xiang Yuan why he could draw Bai Wuyan's life-and-death cultivation magic sword from a distance. Xiao Lingyue didn't want to understand that question, and Bai Wuyan herself refused to answer it.

The Wujie Sword was somewhat aloof, and it seemed displeased to see that Xiang Yuan was the one controlling it. However, when its owner, Bai Wuyan, took it from a superior position, she looked down at it with disdain.

However, Xiang Yuan had long since absorbed Bai Wuyan's primordial spirit, making it almost indistinguishable from a patina. The Wujie Sword, which cultivated with Bai Wuyan's life force, also possessed a portion of Xiang Yuan's aura, making him a quarter of its master. He was indeed qualified to wield the Wujie Sword.

Therefore, the aloofness of the Wujie Sword is useless in front of him; even if he doesn't want to, he has to obediently submit.

"Be careful, fairy."

Xiang Yuan spoke calmly, taking a step forward.

boom!
The space beneath Xiang Yuan's feet suddenly distorted, and a shockwave exploded into a ring-shaped cloud. Man and sword became one, transforming into a dazzling stream of light that shot out.

The sun shines brightly, its rays boundless.

The rushing sword light trembled in the air and suddenly split apart.

One becomes two, two becomes three, and three becomes countless!
In an instant, a torrent of sword light arrived with lightning speed, each sword beam trailing a golden crow's tail flame, dyeing the entire sky crimson.

A rain of swords descended upon Shang Qingmeng, engulfing the sky and creating visible ripples in the air. The heavens and earth trembled, the clouds swirling into a massive vortex, faintly revealing a yin-yang symbol. As it slowly rotated, it stripped away all the strange phenomena surrounding Shang Qingmeng.

The strange phenomena are merely the surface; what is truly stripped away is the underlying principles of heaven and earth that these phenomena represent.

What a sword!

Shang Qingmeng's eyes shone with extraordinary light. With the Crimson Sky Divine Sword in hand, its blade pointed straight to the sky. Boundless sword light descended from the heavens, transforming into a towering sword pillar.

The sword pillar swept across, like a pillar of heaven collapsing, and the golden crow sword rain collided with it, bursting out a dazzling light explosion that made the sun and moon pale in comparison.

The terrifying shockwave shattered the Yin-Yang vortex, and the aftershocks swept across the sky and the earth. The boiling energy fluctuations could be clearly heard by the people dueling in the distance.

"Senior Sister Yinshuang has excellent swordsmanship, but it's a pity that the sword light is scattered and not condensed enough. That's not how you use a sword." Shang Qingmeng's black hair fluttered as she reminded her, believing that the sword strike just now should have been more powerful.

You won't be happy even if you actually use it!

Xiang Yuan thought to himself that he didn't want to discourage Shang Qingmeng's sword spirit, so he naturally held back some of his strength when he attacked. Hearing this, he showed disdain and said, "Although the sword is not used like this, the Great Sun is used like this."

The Sword of No Calamity rose horizontally, and countless sword lights gathered together, transforming the great sun into nine.

Nine suns soared across the sky, scorching the heavens and boiling the seas.

Within each great sun, a golden crow phantom flapped its wings, its blazing light illuminating the entire Fire Dragon Wasteland. The magma sea boiled and resonated, and in the distorted white light, even space itself seemed to begin to twist and melt.

Nine suns soared into the sky, their power terrifying. Shang Qingmeng felt a burning heat all over her body. Without hesitation, she took out another sword, the Cangming Sword, which was used for both cultivation and life.

The crimson sky represents the nine heavens, and the azure sea represents the netherworld. When the two swords unite, heaven and earth unite. With the Dao Sword realm at your command, all laws can be accomplished with a single thought.

Clang! !

The clear, melodious sound of the sword seemed to shake the heavens and earth. With a single sword stroke, Shang Qingmeng cleaved through the fiery sky and shot straight towards the nine suns.

……

At the sword-fighting tournament, everyone stopped their amateurish sparring and watched the divine battle unfolding in the distance.

Qin Zhaorong nodded repeatedly. Just as she had expected, Yinshuang possessed a rare treasure, which gave her senior sister the illusion that they were evenly matched.

Across from her, Dao Xue closed her eyes to sense the power of the sword, her beautiful eyes sparkling with joy. She said to Xiao Lingyue, "Junior sister, look! It's the Palace Master's Sword of No Calamity! I never expected that Master would bestow such a treasure upon Senior Sister Yin Shuang so that she could carry it with her."

Xiao Lingyue: (_)
My junior sister doesn't want to watch; she's suffering inside.

Xiao Lingyue was absolutely certain that Bai Wuyan had not allowed 'Yinshuang' to carry the Wujie Sword with her, and that Xiang Yuan was able to summon the sword because...

The question is about dual cultivation, just like how she can borrow Chan'er's Silver Moon Wheel.

(End of this chapter)