Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 243 Xiao Ju Becomes a Disciple
Secondly, one cannot carry others while flying when one's cultivation level is still low.

When using this technique, one needs to be fully focused to protect oneself, and maintaining one's ability to switch between reality and illusion amidst the sword light is extremely difficult.

If one is to protect others, it is difficult to attend to both mind and body. If one is not careful, the sword energy will backfire or be forcibly dragged down and disintegrated, resulting in serious injury or even the destruction of both the person and the sword.

However, in Song Yan's view, this second point was not a big problem.

I felt less disappointed and more interested.

The carefree feeling of transforming into flowing light and letting one's mind and form follow each other is no less attractive than manned flight.

With this escape technique, the sky is high and the sea is wide; there is nowhere I cannot go!

He sat down cross-legged in the courtyard, clearing his mind of all distractions, and immersed himself in comprehending the Dharma.

The transformation of his divine consciousness after Foundation Establishment, along with the lotus flower within the Zhendao Sword Mansion, allowed Xiao Song's understanding of this escape technique to rapidly increase.

The mental technique circulates, guiding the Qi throughout the body.

His body was gradually enveloped by a faint, sharp aura. Inside the Zhendao Sword Mansion, the main body of the Unmoored Boat trembled and vibrated softly, reflecting the Dao patterns on the lotus flower.

He tried to draw out a wisp of sword energy, guiding his own energy to merge with the sword energy, transforming his entire body into his natal flying sword.

time flies.

Deep in the bamboo forest, the figure sitting cross-legged on the blue stone was gradually enveloped in a layer of constantly flowing silvery-white halo, hazy and faint.

The halo wasn't the light emitted by the outward sword energy; it was more like a sharp edge emanating from deep within the skin and meridians.

"Suck it."

Xiao He was holding half a watermelon and eating it with a small wooden spoon.

Watching Song Yan glow like a firefly in the bamboo forest at night.

Night fell, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Song Yan suddenly opened his eyes, his golden eyes extremely conspicuous in the night!
The next moment, without moving, his entire body blurred instantly, like a reflection in water!
A slender yet extremely refined black and white sword light rose from the bamboo forest and green stone like a comet striking the moon!

"Om-!"

The sharp, short sound of something cutting through the air was fleeting!
The sword light pierced through the dense foliage of the bamboo forest in an instant, without any collision, perfectly avoiding all the bamboo branches.

With an indescribable spirituality and speed, it cut through the newly descending night sky and soared straight into the clouds!
Xiao He was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise while holding the big watermelon: "Wow..."

"Awesome! Awesome!"

Its speed was more than ten times faster than that of Bai Ri Yu Jian! Its trajectory was resolute, and its sharpness was concentrated, already showing some of the prototype of the sword escape technique of "transforming into sword light and traveling thousands of miles in an instant"!

The sword light flashed and disappeared at the edge of the clouds, then instantly changed direction, leaving several winding and agile trails in the air as if it had a life of its own.

A breathtaking speed, an elusive arc.

At the entrance of the cave, Xiao Ju, who had just peeked out, only managed to catch a glimpse of a star in the night sky before the familiar figure was already standing in the courtyard again.

However, the sharp aura surrounding him was slowly receding.

Wandering through the vast emptiness, I glimpsed the path to enlightenment.

Song Yan gently exhaled a breath carrying a faint sword aura, sensing the slightly humming Unmoored Boat within the Zhendao Sword Mansion.

"Fast, agile, stealthy..."

Song Yan savored the brief escape he had just made, his mind clear and serene.

"With this skill by my side, whether I am traveling the world or facing enemies in battle, I will have the initiative in my hands."

However, he had only just begun to cultivate this technique and was still far from truly "transforming his body into a stream of light".

The key points are extremely profound and require a great deal of time and effort to continuously try and practice; they cannot be mastered overnight.

After trying several more times and exhausting all the sword energy in the Zhendao Sword Mansion, Song Yan returned to his cave with a sense of unfinished business.

He also tidied up his remaining belongings.

Some things that will no longer be needed after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage will be left to Xiao Ju.

Hmm, that's about right.

He slowly walked to the edge of the cave's courtyard.

"Xiaoju."

A calm voice rang out, and the girl who was studying basic formations trembled slightly. She immediately put down her book, walked quickly to Song Yan, and bowed her head respectfully: "Senior."

Song Yan looked at her calmly. He had seen the girl's perseverance, hard work, and rare comprehension during their time together.

"Now that I have successfully completed my foundation building, I will fulfill my previous promise today."

The girl's heart skipped a beat, and her breathing became rapid.

Song Yan did not immediately make her perform the apprenticeship ceremony. Instead, his expression was solemn and his tone was more serious than ever before.

"Xiao Ju, I will accept you as my disciple, but you have two paths to choose from, and you will have to decide for yourself."

"One is the ordinary path of spirit refining. I suppose you are already familiar with this, so I will not go into further detail."

"The second is the path I have taken, the path of sword cultivation."

"The Path of Sword Cultivation..."

Xiao Ju's expression revealed a hint of doubt.

"The path of sword cultivation I'm referring to is not the cultivation of ordinary sword techniques, but a path of cultivation based on a variety of sword arts!"

"This method requires the sword that severs the spirit seed."

He emphasized the words "Spirit-Slaying Sword" very highly.

Song Yan's voice carried a hint of heaviness: "The so-called 'sword planting' is to use the inner spiritual power to disperse one's original cultivation and sever the spiritual root within the body!"

“Within the dantian and the sea of ​​qi, open up the ‘Suppressing Dao Sword Palace’ and entrust the foundation of one’s Dao to a seed of swordsmanship.”

"This method is extremely dangerous. There is a possibility of losing control of spiritual power, being devoured by sword energy, or having one's Qi Sea collapse."

"If you are not careful, at best your dantian will be completely destroyed, and you will become a cripple, forever unable to attain immortality; at worst you will die on the spot, your body and your cultivation will be destroyed."

"If successful, after severing the spirit and planting the sword, the foundation will be reshaped. One must endure a tempering pain several times stronger than ordinary cultivation in order to condense the seed of sword path."

He clearly and without reservation explained the advantages and disadvantages of the two paths to Komari, especially the extreme risks and pain of swordsmanship.

"Do you understand?"

Inside the cave, all was silent for a moment.

Xiao Ju was lost in thought.

The pain of severing one's spirit, the complete destruction of one's dantian?
Death and the annihilation of one's cultivation, a narrow escape from death?
These terrible consequences seemed to be right before her eyes, impacting her mind and spirit.

However, just when Song Yan thought she needed more time to think, or was even scared away by the harsh prospect,

Xiao Ju didn't think for long before raising her head.

That freckled face, which always seemed a little timid, now showed an unprecedented determination.

Her eyes were clear and bright as she looked directly at Song Yan, without the slightest hesitation or fear.

"Senior!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually steady, carrying a clear-sighted certainty, "I want to choose the path of sword cultivation!"

"Xiao Ju's talent for cultivation was extremely poor to begin with."

She said firmly, "Xiao Ju knows very well that with such talent, if she follows the path of Spirit Refining step by step, she will probably never be able to establish a foundation in her entire life. Perhaps she will be lucky to reach the late stage of Qi Refining."

She recalled the days she struggled in the Dongyuan Sect, the endless mending and scornful looks.

Suffering? Pain?
This kind of thing has been with her since she was a child, hasn't it? What's there to be afraid of?
Song Yan looked at her: "This matter concerns your life and your path. If you choose the conventional path of spiritual cultivation, I will still accept you as my disciple, guide your cultivation, and do my best to help you seek opportunities." "Choosing the path of the sword means facing nine deaths and one life, the pain of which is indescribable. Won't you think it over carefully?"

"No need."

She took a deep breath, relieved herself of the burden in her heart, and completely let go of her hands, allowing the old scars to be exposed to the light. Her voice was firm and powerful.

"Bear with this physical pain, it will eventually pass."

"Compared to only ever watching others' backs and never even having the chance to pursue the great path, this path before me, no matter how dangerous or painful, will ultimately give me hope!"

Having been plagued by misfortune since childhood, meeting a benefactor like Senior Song must have already used up all my luck.

How could we not seize such a precious opportunity?
"No matter how difficult it is, Xiao Ju wants to give it a try!"

After saying that, she took half a step back and, without hesitation, knelt down firmly before Song Yan, her forehead touching the ground, and performed an extremely solemn apprenticeship ceremony!

Looking at her kneeling figure and listening to her clear, firm, and resolute words, Song Yan was filled with mixed emotions.

There was a sense of relief, admiration, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, feeling of empathy.

He once made the same desperate choice, on the brink of life and death, in a mountain stream.

Instead of immediately helping her up, Ren Xiaoju completed the entire kowtow ceremony.

Only when her forehead lifted off the ground did Song Yan step forward, gently supporting her and lifting her up.

"it is good!"

Song Yan nodded.

"Since you have made up your mind, from this day forward, you will be my disciple, Song Yan."

"You'd better remember what you said today, or you'll regret it."

Xiao Ju bowed again: "Disciple will obey Master's orders!"

There were tears glistening in Xiao Ju's eyes, but they were no longer from vulnerability, but from immense joy.

Unbeknownst to her, Song Yan was also somewhat dazed.

I never imagined that I would one day have the foundation to build my Dao and be able to take people as my disciples.

However, apart from that, he didn't feel anything particularly special.

Because in Xiao Song's heart, he still felt that he was not qualified to teach others anything, and was simply taking in another outer disciple for the declining Sword Sect.

I'm not even twenty-two years old yet, which means I'm only five years older than Xiao Ju.

Now that they had become master and disciple, Song Yan naturally did not hesitate and immediately taught him the Spirit Transformation Manual without reservation.

About ten days later, Xiao Ju was ready to plant the sword.

She already possessed the fifth level of Qi Refining, which was on par with her cultivation level at the time. In addition, with her current Foundation Establishment cultivator protecting her, there shouldn't be any problems.

All you need to do is spend some time thoroughly memorizing the method of sword cultivation.

The meditation room in the Earth-character Eryi Cave was protected by layers of restrictions, and Xiao Ju sat cross-legged inside.

Wearing the plain white undergarment that Song Yan had prepared for her, her body trembled slightly with nervousness, but her eyes were unusually firm.

Song Yan sat cross-legged in front of her, his Foundation Establishment Realm aura perfectly contained, leaving only a calm and reliable presence.

With a flick of his finger, he created a sword formation that quickly condensed the spiritual energy within the cave, making it even purer and more stable.

"Xiao Ju, don't panic. Guard your mind and focus your inner energy on your dantian."

Song Yan's voice was calm yet penetrating, like a clear spring that washed away Xiao Ju's timidity.

"The sword that severs the spirit seed is extremely painful, but if the mind is thrown into chaos, all previous efforts may be wasted, and one may even perish."

"You just need to keep your mind calm. If the sword energy gets out of control, I will suppress it. You just need to focus on yourself and act according to the method you have understood."

Xiao Ju took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Master."

He closed his eyes and focused all his energy on circulating the "Gengling Scroll," channeling his peak Qi Refining fourth level spiritual energy into his meridians, like a rushing stream, accumulating power for the upcoming Spirit-Slaying Sword.

At a certain moment, all the spiritual energy in his body gathered and transformed into a sharp aura.

Although Song Yan did not urge her, Xiao Ju had already made up her mind, so she no longer hesitated and activated the spiritual power to instantly slash at the four spiritual roots in her body.

"Uh... um..."

An uncontrollable groan of pain escaped from deep within his throat.

The foundation of his cultivation collapsed instantly.

The dantian and dantian trembled violently, and the original spiritual power dissipated and was no longer restrained.

The out-of-control spiritual energy was like thousands of wild horses, rampaging through her meridians and flesh, seemingly trying to tear every inch of her body apart.

In that room, fine beads of blood seeped from every pore of her body, staining her plain white clothes red.

Song Yan's fingertips twitched slightly, and a gentle spiritual energy gathered at her fingertips.

His figure did not move, but the immense spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage, released with this wisp of spiritual power, forcibly regulated and suppressed the violent and out-of-control spiritual energy in Xiao Ju's body.

Xiao Ju's spirit was highly concentrated amidst extreme pain, and her consciousness was clearer than ever before.

She abandoned all distracting thoughts and focused all her consciousness into the depths of her dantian, which seemed to be collapsing.

As her Qi Sea churned and her spiritual light dissipated, the nascent form of sword energy that remained after she severed her spiritual root did not disappear.

boom!
The pain instantly pushed her to her limit! Xiao Ju felt as if her dantian had been completely torn apart!
Within the seven orifices, the previously scattered and out-of-control spiritual energy seemed to have found a new home, and was frantically poured in and devoured by the newly opened rift!
After absorbing a large amount of dissipated spiritual energy, the newly formed fissure began to change drastically, slowly stabilizing and expanding. Finally, at the very core of Xiao Ju's dantian, a strange space was formed, shaped like a newly sprouted green leaf with its sharpness concealed.

Under Song Yan's keen observation, Xiao Ju's current state could not escape his eyes.

Seeing that the Zhendao Sword Mansion was beginning to take shape, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The most difficult step has been completed. Having overcome the hurdle of establishing the Sword Mansion, with the support of the Spirit Gathering Sword Array, planting the sword is now just a matter of following the established procedures.

In an instant, a small vortex of spiritual energy, visible to the naked eye, began to spin wildly above the quiet room, with spiritual energy pouring down.

Xiao Ju's body trembled violently, and she was on the verge of collapse.

But she didn't loosen her clenched teeth, forcefully guiding her own pulling force, following the trajectory of the technique.

After what seemed like an eternity, the churning pain and buzzing deep within Xiao Ju's dantian and dantian finally subsided.

In the center of the Sword Mansion, a lotus seed the size of a grain of rice, emitting faint golden patterns, solidified and floated silently!

Xiao Ju's body went limp, she collapsed completely, and fell forward.

A pair of warm hands caught her just in time.

Song Yan had arrived beside her without her noticing. He gently helped her up, pressed her pulse point, and channeled a pure sword energy into her body to help stabilize her still weak sword seed.

"it is good."

Song Yan looked at the girl in front of him. Although her face was as pale as paper and her breath was faint, there was a hint of tenacity and unyieldingness between her brows.

His eyes held approval and a relieved satisfaction.

"The Sword Mansion is now complete. From now on, this Sword Mansion and the Dao Seed will be the foundation of your cultivation."

"After a few days of recuperation, you can begin to rebuild your cultivation level."

Xiao Ju opened her eyes wearily, managing a weak smile: "Yes..."

That's great, Xiao Ju.

I haven't disappointed my master.

(End of this chapter)