This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 421 After eating and drinking my fill, I felt sorry for my disciple.
Xiaodongtian High Platform.

Xiang Yuan sat cross-legged opposite the Sword Master Su Ran. The vast and boundless principles of swordsmanship surged into his brow, making him feel dazed. His primordial spirit seemed to leave his body, and he looked down at the world with a different kind of scenery.

Sword Master Su Ran marveled. The athletic student's strong physique was a treasure to her. She felt that this deal was worthwhile. In exchange for the inheritance, she received an endless supply of blood medicine, which would guarantee her future cultivation.

The thought that she knew something Bai Wuyan didn't, that she had tasted it but Bai Wuyan hadn't, made her even happier.

That lowly servant girl is always swaggering around, putting on airs and acting all high and mighty. She really thinks she's someone important. Next time, I'll beat her until she kneels and keep her as a slave in Jianxinzhai!

Thinking about this, I feel a little impulsive!

Leaving aside the secret joy of the Sword Master Su Ran, and also ignoring the Suffering Fairy outside the Small Cave Heaven, let's focus on Xiang Yuan's side. With the Dao Sword Realm empowering him, the small world within his body was projected, turning the illusory into the real, as if it had come to life.

Xiang Yuan's body does not contain a physical microcosm, but rather a microcosm encompassing the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits plus the five internal organs, which can be likened to a microcosm.

The Great Heavenly Circuit consists of 365 acupoints and 365 stars; the Small Heavenly Circuit consists of the Ren and Du meridians, where Yin and Yang converge; the internal organs are represented by the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which generate and regenerate endlessly.

With the Dao Sword Realm bestowed upon me, I am the Dao itself; the Dao's essence flows, and the world is reborn.

Xiang Yuan closed his eyes and concentrated, his body's energy points expanded, and his inner world was projected outward, gradually becoming real.

In an instant, the heavens and earth within the small cave trembled, light emanated from the void, and the outline of a brand new world slowly unfolded around him.

The Five Elements evolve, and Yin and Yang interact!
Between heaven and earth, the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth flow endlessly, mutually generating and restraining each other, evolving into all things.

The two energies of Yin and Yang intertwine like swimming fish, sometimes transforming into a Tai Chi diagram that rotates slowly, and sometimes dispersing into black and white, harmonizing the balance of the world.

Every change involves the collision of the laws of heaven and earth, self-evolution, innovation, and is mysterious and wonderful beyond words.

Mountains rise abruptly from the ground, and vegetation sprouts from the soil.

Majestic peaks rise like a dragon's spine, their range stretching endlessly. Snow-capped peaks rise, clouds and mist swirl around their waists, and streams murmur at their feet. Ancient trees stretch their branches, tender green shoots emerge from the soil, vines entwine, and hundreds of flowers bloom.

A vibrant scene of life and all things thriving suddenly came into view.

Above the sky, the sun shines brightly, the moon shines brightly, and three hundred and sixty-five stars move according to mysterious trajectories, their starlight weaving into a net, scattering endless starlight.

When heaven and earth were born, the primordial energy flowed like a river, nourishing all things.

Vast primordial energy gathers from the void, originating from the laws of heaven and earth, transforming into trickling streams that eventually converge into a river, surging and flowing. Wherever it passes, vegetation grows ever more lush, and rocks become ever more exquisite; the entire world seems to be infused with a soul, gradually coming to life.

Looking down from a high vantage point, he seemed like a creator god, in control of the universe.

With a single thought, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning arise; with another thought, the seasons cycle and all things are born and die.

At this moment, he is heaven and earth!

Different cultivation methods result in different projected worlds. To be more precise, different cultivation and mastery of the laws of heaven and earth will lead to different projected worlds.

Xiang Yuan went on a shopping spree at supermarkets everywhere, copying all the laws and principles of heaven and earth, regardless of whether they were applicable or not, and then summarizing and refining them into the Nine Paths of Asking Heaven.

Techniques such as Yin and Yang in their initial separation and the sun and moon in the same sky appeared in different forms in the projected world. He had not known how to use the Five Elements talent before, but now, observing the process of the evolution of all things, he gained some insights.

The inner world within the body subtly resonated with the external projection, and other cultivation methods also manifested extraordinary phenomena: heavenly rains fell, vegetation grew wildly, spiritual herbs blossomed, and even the rocks shimmered with a jade-like luster; golden lotuses sprang from the earth, blooming in nine grades and radiating boundless light...

Thunderous sounds swept across, resonating in the void.

A wisp of chaotic light spread out, seemingly resonating with the Great Dao, and all spirits celebrated.

Although it is an illusion, it also has its truth; mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, and the stars all possess their own spirit.

Xiang Yuan was so engrossed in it that he lost track of time, as if he had transformed into the will of the world. His primordial spirit was refreshed, and his understanding of the laws of heaven and earth deepened.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Yuan felt extremely cold, a chill penetrating to the bone, as if the blood in his body had been drained away...

I opened my eyes, and it wasn't just a vague feeling; my body was covered in straws.

Xiang Yuan stared blankly at the Sword Master Su Ran opposite him with dead fish eyes. The latter closed his eyes and nodded, with a faint smile on his face, as if he was in a trance, or as if he was pleased that Xiang Yuan's cultivation had greatly improved and that he had not failed her kindness in passing on his teachings.

Tons, tons, tons!
With her stunning beauty, she appeared dignified and had the air of a master. If it weren't for the sound of her swallowing blood rapidly, Xiang Yuan would have believed her.

The Sword Master Su Ran was caught red-handed. She pretended to be in a deep meditation, closing her eyes and refusing to respond. Even after Xiang Yuan cut off her blood supply, she still showed no intention of waking up, intending to continue pretending to be asleep.

For a time, Xiang Yuan preferred the White House.

Although the rich woman could change her mind faster than turning the pages of a book, and would often belittle and humiliate him, making him feel that she was a good person, she was genuinely generous with what she offered, and when she said she would take him in, she was absolutely true to her word.

Moreover, he has found the trick and already has a way to control rich women.

Most importantly, the rich woman is not a riddle teller!
In comparison, the Sword Master Su Ran...

To put it simply, you can see Zi Ping's seriousness and earnestness in Su Ran Sword Master, as well as Shang Qingmeng's tendency to make excuses, and even Qin Zhaorong's shamelessness.

He's a very down-to-earth Upper Three Realms expert; he has the good qualities, and he's also unwilling to discard the bad ones—he's practically without any weaknesses.

After sucking for a while, Su Ran Sword Master couldn't suck anything anymore, so she regained control of the straw and put it back into her sleeve.

She did not wake up immediately, but still wore a faint smile, gratified that Xiang Yuan had not failed her missionary work.

Half an hour later, she seemed to wake up from a dream, looking as if nothing had happened: "Not bad, your talent and comprehension are truly extraordinary. With a few more lessons, you will have mastered my Dao Sword Realm."

Xiang Yuan: (_)
He's already thinking about rich women after just a couple of words with the Sword Master at the Doorway.

I feel bad for the White House Chief of Staff; I said so many bad things about her before.

Because he had just entered a deep meditation and was fast asleep, Su Ran Sword Master knew nothing and was therefore not embarrassed at all: "The method of controlling the small world has been taught to you. This supernatural power does not lie in the realm of Dao Sword, but in the formation of your own small world..."

Su Ran Sword Master spoke eloquently, saying that Xiang Yuan had the Heavenly Emperor Dao Seed, and his small world still had room for improvement, and the speed of improvement was far greater than hers. Unlike her, he wouldn't need external help to refine even a drop of divine and demonic blood.

This is both an advantage and a disadvantage of Xiangyuan; too many opportunities are not necessarily a good thing.

The Sword Master Su Ran gave a brief reminder before returning to the main topic, explaining his method of controlling the small world. The most fundamental aspect lies in the interaction of Yin and Yang and the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements. These two are the foundation of the world's birth and the origin of the creation of myriad laws from a single thought.

The cultivation experience shared by Sword Master Su Ran was invaluable, and Xiang Yuan listened to it all without missing a word, imprinting it all in his mind. Just as he was listening with great interest, he saw Sword Master Su Ran purse his lips and suddenly stop.

"Alas, time is merciless after all. I can't compare to newcomers like you. I'm already tired after just a short while. If someone could... well, opportunities depend on fate, and cannot be forced." Sword Master Su Ran sighed.

Xiang Yuan stood up, sat cross-legged behind Su Ran Sword Master, rolled his eyes, placed his palms on Su Ran's back, and circulated the Formless Seal Technique to help Su Ran refine the blood medicine in his body.

Sword Master Su Ran squinted his eyes, quite enjoying himself, but also feeling a little regretful. If he hadn't messed up the marriage and drowned Xiang Yuan and Shang Qingmeng in the pool, he could have used the medicine right away without having to make up excuses.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Shang Qingmeng was still knocking on the door, determined not to leave until Xiang Yuan was returned to her, which gave him a real headache.

After eating and drinking my fill, I felt guilty towards my disciple.

No, it was a very proper cultivation. She taught Xiang Yuan the Dao Sword Realm and helped him develop his potential. In return for her teachings and guidance, Xiang Yuan offered her a great medicine. They each got what they needed, and they didn't do anything else. What's there to be embarrassed about?

Thinking of this, Sword Master Su Ran felt much more at ease and was no longer ashamed. He waved his hand and activated the skill...

The door was closed.

Wait a little longer. Xiang Yuan has come all this way, and we should encourage his desire to learn. I'll teach him a few more tricks later.

Win-win situations are not important. The main thing is to be optimistic about Xiang Yuan's determination to study. Introducing Shang Qingmeng and Zi Ping would be misleading and affect their studies.

That's right, that's it.

Seven or eight days later, Su Ran Sword Master couldn't continue replenishing his energy because he had overdone it. He stopped his private lectures and prepared to go into seclusion for a while.

Before going into seclusion, Xiang Yuan was given an access permission: if he wanted to catch up on his studies later, he could ignore the Nine Absolute Formations of the Sword Heart Sect and directly enter the Small Cave Heaven.

The portal to the small grotto opened, and Xiang Yuan was thrown out, landing steadily in Shang Qingmeng's arms.

Shang Qingmeng hugged Xiang Yuan tightly, glared angrily at the entrance of the small cave, and rushed in to demand an explanation from her master.

How could Su Ran Sword Master grant her wish? He immediately closed the door and, with the dignity of a teacher in mind, uttered a clear, cold voice: "Disciple, it is most immoral to gossip behind someone's back, especially since you are talking about your teacher. You have been slightly punished these past few days, and I'm sure you have learned your lesson. Learn from A Ping; she is much more mature and composed than you."

Zi Ping: ('ω')
No, Master, A-Ping is here to have some fun. What happens between you and Senior Sister is none of A-Ping's business. You can't use A-Ping as an example.

Zi Ping was secretly delighted, thinking that there would be a good show to watch, when she suddenly realized that something was wrong.

What's going on? Why is Master calling her Ah Ping now?
Upon hearing this, Shang Qingmeng flew into a rage and began wildly slashing at the entrance of the small cave: "Why does Master make up these excuses? If you have any shame, you should explain yourself clearly in front of your disciple."

The effect was mediocre; there was no further sound from within the portal, indicating that Sword Master Su Ran had gone into seclusion.

The Fairy Merchant was even angrier. She glanced at Xiang Yuan in her arms, who was pale and looked as if he had been drained of all his energy. Her heart ached for him. She turned her head and glared at Zi Ping.

(￣俣)(;)
It's all your fault! You wouldn't join me in cursing!

You traitor!
Zi Ping felt secretly aggrieved. Her senior sister couldn't deal with their master, so she came after her instead, without any sense of reason. But Shang Qingmeng was in a fit of anger, and if she argued back now, she would definitely get what's coming to her.

And it's not like I'm being wronged; the gossip is really juicy. The only downside is that the gossip is so big that spreading rumors could get me silenced.

It's really upsetting not being able to share.

The scene shifts to Zi Ping facing the wall in her room, listening to her senior sister's incoherent cries, her eyes rolling so hard they almost cramp up.

Shang Qingmeng felt wronged and her logic was inconsistent. The fairy cultivation method was hard to justify. Since it was cultivation, if the disciple could cultivate, the master could also cultivate. It was reasonable and there was nothing wrong with it.

He found a new reason, believing that his master had taken away his cultivation opportunity, thus delaying his own cultivation, and reluctantly continued to adhere to the same set of principles he had previously insisted on.

With red-rimmed eyes, she nestled in Xiang Yuan's arms, her eyes wide open, saying nothing.

So cute!

"As I just said, the Sword Venerable detained me because of your rude remarks. She really didn't mean anything else. I was just tired from cultivation. These past few days have been peaceful. The Sword Venerable has been guiding my cultivation. There's really nothing else..." Xiang Yuan coaxed.

The effect was so-so. Fairy Shang firmly believed that she and Sword Venerable Su Ran had consummated their relationship in the Little Cave Heaven, or at least that they had eaten and seen each other like she had.

The method of severing the seven emotions and cutting off the six desires only works in the wrong places. Fairy Shang had no taboos and said whatever came to mind, which frightened Xiang Yuan so much that he hurriedly covered her mouth.

You speak in such a childish tone, and you're even being so immature. Have you forgotten the excuse you gave for the Sword Master last time?

Learn from Ah Ping; her lover wasn't upset at all when his master slept with him, and he was even laughing.

Xiang Yuan rolled her eyes. These past few days, A Ping had certainly given her plenty of amusement.

It feels like something's missing?
Yes, without Qin Zhaorong, we couldn't gather the left and right door gods.

Considering that Zi Ping is no longer standing outside the door but is being punished by Shang Qingmeng to stand inside, Xiang Yuan will not mention Qin Zhaorong, lest the latter also enter the room and add another pair of eyes during the live broadcast.

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.

The Peerless Palace, a small grotto in the cold pool.

Xiang Yuan rinsed himself in the water, looked up at the sky, and saw that the blue phoenix was still hanging there. He couldn't help but shake his head repeatedly, thinking that the bird was quite stubborn.

That pretty boy, listen to his advice. Being kept by the White House mistress is actually quite good. Enjoy it sooner rather than later. You'll get beaten up more if you give in sooner or later anyway, so you might as well give up the struggle from the beginning.

Bai Wuyan flicked her finger, and a streak of cold light fell to the ground, landing obliquely on the ice in front of Xiang Yuan.

The Thunderclap Blade!

Click!

Thanks to the cold energy of the Moon Marrow Jade Liquid, the ice surface, which was as hard as ten-thousand-year-old ice, shattered under the weight it could not bear, and the Jinglan Blade immediately fell into the deep pool.

Xiang Yuan plunged down, gripped the knife hilt, felt its astonishing weight, and was overjoyed.

The Jinglan Blade was reforged once again, with the main material being the broken peak of the Thousand Machine Sword Tomb. Not only was it incredibly sharp, but its weight also increased from a mere thousand catties to ten thousand catties. Moreover, the divine weapon gained sentience, sensing Xiang Yuan's affection and responding with a resounding roar.

Moreover, the reforged Jinglan Blade also has the ability to change at will, and can even summon a three-headed, six-armed Dharma form to control.

Rich women are so nice!

Xiang Yuan wanted to practice his swordsmanship in the deep pool, but worried about bumping his head on the way out, so he suppressed his urge to chop and obediently surfaced.

Seeing that the furnace was so sensible, Bai Wuyan did not delay. She dispersed her cloud-woven heavenly robe and stepped into the pool.

Half an hour later, Xiang Yuan stood behind Bai Wuyan, reached around to help her put on her palace clothes.

"Where have you been these past few days? Why haven't you come to Wushuang Palace?" Bai Wuyan asked calmly. Xiang Yuan had broken his promise, which was different from their previous agreement.

"At the Overlord's Palace in the capital, Lingyue..."

Xiang Yuan casually pinned the blame on Xiao Lingyue, without mentioning Jianxinzhai or anything like that.

He had been taught by the Sword Master Su Ran and had spent a lot of time studying and practicing diligently. After that, he spent several more days coaxing Shang Qingmeng. If Shang Qingmeng hadn't been worried that his master would cheat on him again in front of him, he might still be lying in the Sword Heart Pavilion right now.

Upon hearing Xiao Lingyue's name, Bai Wuyan said no more. She and Xiang Yuan had made an agreement to meet in private, behind Xiao Lingyue's back, and not openly.

After Xiang Yuan finished dressing, fearing that she might bump her head again, she patiently checked everything, tightened her waistband, adjusted the collar of her palace dress, and finally removed her hairpins to re-tied her hair, making sure that every detail was perfect.

After thinking it over, he decided it wasn't safe enough, so he arranged the rich woman in a cross-legged position, put the items back in their original place, and then left without a care.

……

The capital city.

"Where have you been all these days?"

In the backyard of the Overlord's Palace, Xiao Lingyue was instructing her younger sister Xiao Lingyan on cultivation when she saw Xiang Yuan suddenly pop out and gave him an annoyed look.

"Sword Heart Sect," Xiang Yuan said with a serious face.

"Hmph, fine, don't tell me then."

Xiao Lingyue turned her head coldly. It was definitely not Jianxinzhai; it should be Wushuang Palace.

These two scoundrels, they were cheating on her before, but now they're getting more and more brazen, as if they really think she doesn't know.

Although Xiao Lingyan had long been engaged to Xiang Yuan, the two had little contact and virtually no interaction. She was also unfamiliar with Xiang Yuan's social circle and didn't understand what Xiao Lingyue was angry about.

Given her taciturn nature, she didn't ask Xiang Yuan and Xiao Lingyue anything, and instead practiced her swordsmanship alone without speaking to Xiang Yuan.

My sister is so nice!

If everyone were like you...

Xiao Lingyue felt a pang of emotion, patted Xiang Yuan on the shoulder, and told him not to just stand there like an idiot, but to go over and give him some pointers on swordsmanship.

Xiang Yuan eagerly stepped forward, grasped Xiao Lingyan's hand, and taught her a set of Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Saber techniques. It was not a common product, but a masterpiece that had been updated several times.

Xiao Lingyue watched for a while, but didn't see any flirting or passionate exchanges, so she liked her younger sister even more.

As the sun sets in the west, dusk approaches.

Inside the small courtyard house, Xiang Yuan sat at the dining table, flanked by the two sisters on either side. He didn't even look up, focusing intently on his meal.

"You can really eat! You must be exhausted from all this work."

"I'm really exhausted. I almost got taken away by Jianxinzhai as a family heirloom," Xiang Yuan muttered, speaking the truth.

"..."

Don't blame everything on Jianxinzhai; they are a legitimate sect!

Thinking of the beautiful and elegant Shang Xianzi of Jianxinzhai, and then thinking of the chaotic interpersonal relationships of Wushuang Palace, Xiao Lingyue couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. She felt that there was no need to compete in swordsmanship anymore, as Wushuang Palace had already lost.

Xiao Lingyue remained silent, but Xiang Yuan spoke up: "Madam, I've been studying diligently at Jianxinzhai these past few days, completely oblivious to what's happening outside. Has anything major happened in Shendu?"

Xiang Yuan asked whether the position of Crown Prince had been finalized. Xiao Lingyue simply replied that because the abbot of Dajue Temple had passed away and was forced to withdraw, no one dared to stand in the way of Tianzong anymore, and Xiao Qian became the Crown Prince under the popular support.

Similarly, Cheng Yuling's position as empress was also secured.

The date of Xiao Yan's ascension to the throne has also been set, and it will be early next year, bringing a new year and a new look.

"And one more thing……"

Xiao Lingyue smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Xiang Yuan with a deep gaze: "The Prince's Mansion in Zhen Dian Prefecture has been renovated. The capital has prepared a ceremonial guard for you, so you can move at any time."

"That's great news! Why doesn't Madam seem happy?"

"Asking knowingly."

Xiao Lingyue snorted lightly. Moving into the Overlord's Mansion would inevitably mean seeing Chan'er in the backyard. The Yellow Spring Demoness would be up to her tricks again.

Xiang Yuan chuckled twice, making no attempt to hide his wolfish ambition, and said to Xiao Lingyan beside him, "You also have an older sister named Chan'er, who is beautiful... uh, naturally beautiful, and quite accomplished. She is the Holy Maiden of the Yellow Springs Path."

Let's not over-glorify her kindness, since Xiao Lingyan really dared to believe it.

Xiang Yuan raised his hand to calculate and decided to move immediately. Back then, he was young and wore thin spring clothes. He was just a lowly constable in Fengxian. Now that he was returning home in glory, he had to show off properly.

It doesn't matter if it's not on the way; it will be on the way when I pick up Chan'er.

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.

10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)