Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 244 The Meeting at Dragon Pool
Time passes day by day.

After slaying the Spirit Seed Sword, Xiao Ju's cultivation gradually got back on track.

Having lost her cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining, she had to start all over again, but she harbored no resentment; instead, she was full of enthusiasm.

She followed Song Yan's advice, revised her Hunyuan spiritual power, and simply chose the same "Qi Condensation Scroll" as her master.

His cultivation speed far surpasses that of before.

In just a few months, he returned to the third level of Qi Refining.

She cherished this hard-won opportunity immensely and displayed astonishing self-discipline.

He practices his martial arts daily, hones his swordsmanship, and studies the fundamental principles of formations in the "Essential Records of Formation Diagrams" meticulously.

Song Yan only needed to offer occasional guidance when she didn't understand something; most of the time, she quietly cultivated and never caused him any worry.

Not long after he established his foundation, Song Yan made a special trip to the familiar Jieyou General Store by the Lingyuan Marsh, hoping to share the good news with Qin Xijun.

However, the wooden door was locked, the area in front of it was deserted, and no one answered.

He simply went to Qin Xijun's cave dwelling, the Elder's Residence of Qixia.

Even after triggering the cave's protective barriers, there was still no response.

"Seclusion? Or has he gone out again?"

Song Yan could only leave a message to share the good news, and then quietly left.

In recent days, besides consolidating his realm and practicing sword-based escape techniques to roam the void, he has been paying attention to two things.

The first is to practice cultivation techniques.

After the Sword-Stabbing Gathering ended, when exchanging for the Thousand Pill Formula, Song Yan also conveniently exchanged for the follow-up cultivation method of the Qi Condensation Scroll, namely the Lesser Profound Qi Scripture.

This is the skill I am practicing now.

However, this cultivation method is too slow. If there were a similar cultivation method that could be cultivated at a slightly faster speed, that would be the best.

However, it was never found.

The other thing is information about the demonic path.

About two years ago, Senior Brother Lin Qing told him everything about his rebirth and the impending invasion of the demonic path.

According to Lin Qing's memories from her "previous life," this dramatic change should be imminent.

However, Song Yan noticed several times that everything inside and outside the mountain gate was calm and peaceful.

He even went to the sect's affairs hall to review recent sect mission files and intelligence jade slips collected from various places.

However, recent reports from various places have been quite calm.

The market was thriving, and although there were occasional skirmishes among scattered cultivators and occasional disturbances by minor demons around the sect, these were all common occurrences.

There were no signs of a large-scale gathering or invasion by the demonic forces, and the fellow disciples in each post did not report anything unusual, not even a suspicious clue.

If what Senior Brother Lin Qing said is true, the timing of the major events is unlikely to change.

The calmer the surface, the more turbulent the undercurrents.

"Never mind, let's talk about it another day."

We can't just sit here and wait for the Demonic Path to appear.

Song Yan would not ignore the crisis this matter brought, but he would not be too worried.

Just be down-to-earth, get stronger step by step, and make yourself able to handle everything.

……

On this day, it drizzled in the early morning, and there was fog in the mountains.

Song Yan arrived at the inner sect's library, partly to see if there were any suitable cultivation techniques for him.

Secondly, I also wanted to find more information about foundation building, to see if I could find out what the function of this pattern was.

In a few days, I will be preparing to go to Qiyuan Prefecture to attend the Dragon Pool Gathering.

If we could find a cultivation technique beforehand, we could save some time.

After dealing with many junior brothers and sisters who recognized him, Song Yan went up to the third floor.

Just then, a figure dressed in a gray-blue inner sect deacon's robe placed a jade slip into a specific slot on the shelf.

The man moved with composure, and his slightly turned face gave Song Yan a sense of familiarity.

After finishing their work, they turned around and their eyes met.

Song Yan was slightly taken aback, then a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Manager Xu?"

This man was none other than Xu Wenxuan, the stern and unsmiling manager of Huogong Village in the past.

At this moment, the serious expression on the other person's face turned into surprise.

"Your name is... Song Yan, right?"

He slowly walked forward, looked Song Yan up and down, and the doubt in his eyes turned into complete shock.

At this moment, Song Yan did not deliberately hide his cultivation level. The Qi Refining disciples did not notice, but Xu Wenxuan did.

That deep, heavy aura, subtly blending with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, undoubtedly belonged to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“…That’s incredible.” Xu Wenxuan’s voice was filled with disbelief and admiration as he subconsciously stroked his beard.

"It's only been a few short years? I remember... you used to be often at Huogongzhai..."

Picking up trash.

"He's already a Foundation Establishment cultivator! This is truly unexpected."

He recalled that boy who had entered the venue with a meager amount of spirit stones and rummaged through the waste pile for array stones.

He had a deep impression of Song Yan, so even after many years, he was able to recognize her immediately.

Back then, that boy was still struggling in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but now he is standing on the same threshold as him.

This progress is truly astonishing.

The light in Xu Wenxuan's eyes was complex.

There was shock, admiration, and a sense of the passage of time and the formidable potential of the younger generation.

He shook his head with a wry smile: "Back then I called you 'young friend,' but now I should call you 'fellow Daoist.'"

"Fellow Daoist Song, congratulations on establishing your Dao foundation!"

Xu Wenxuan spoke with a carefree tone.

Admittedly, he was amazed by Song Yan's rapid progress and often lamented the gap between people.

But with a firm commitment to the Way, one will not feel resentment over such trivial matters.

There are countless talented and brilliant people in the world. If we were to be jealous of every single one of them, what would be the point of cultivating immortality?

The right path is to walk steadily and far on one's own path.

Everyone has their own destiny, and he had already seen through it all during his long cultivation journey. Instead of complaining about fate, he should guard his original heart and move forward steadily.

It is already a great fortune that I was able to enter the inner sect and establish a foundation for my cultivation in my lifetime.

Song Yan was also moved, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Congratulations to you too!"

Xu Wenxuan was only at the late stage of Qi Refining back then, but now he is at the Foundation Establishment stage, so his speed is not slow.

"I never expected to meet you here. Things have changed so much. Senior Brother Xu is now the manager of this library?"

"Exactly."

Xu Wenxuan's face showed a hint of nonchalance.

"After I was fortunate enough to achieve the Foundation Establishment stage, I was transferred here to be in charge of indexing some of the classics. Compared to the Firework Village, this place is quite quiet and elegant, and I can read more books here."

"As for you, to have reached the Foundation Establishment stage in such a short time, and with such a solid foundation, talent, opportunity, and perseverance are all indispensable. Junior Brother Song, you have a bright future ahead of you!"

Although his tone carried a sigh about the gap between them, his eyes revealed only admiration and a hint of fighting spirit, without a trace of self-pity or resentment.

"Senior brother, you flatter me. It was just a coincidence."

Song Yan humbly explained his purpose, "To be honest, I came here today to see if there is a more suitable Foundation Establishment cultivation method in the pavilion."

"it is good."

Xu Wenxuan nodded, then, as if remembering something important, said solemnly, "Recently, the entire sect has been preparing for the upcoming grand event. At that time, many precious books, even rare manuals or rubbings of relics, may be taken from the sect's secret vault for disciples to refer to, or displayed as prizes for the competition." "Junior Brother Song, I presume you won't be absent from the Dragon Pool Gathering?"

The Dragon Pool Gathering is the official name for the grand competition of the nine veins of Dragon Pool Mountain.

This is a grand event held only once every few years or even every ten years in the cultivation world of Chu.

The so-called Nine Meridians, besides the six major sects of Xuanyuan Sect, Xuanjian Mountain, Lingfu Sect, Huadu Temple, Sheyang Sect, and Dongyuan Sect each occupying one seat, have three more seats.

Besides the major sects, there are also many smaller sects and factions in the cultivation world of Chu Kingdom. They often unite and form a group, which is considered as one lineage.

There are many independent cultivators who are free and do not belong to any sect, forming their own independent cultivation lineage.

In addition, the Zhao family of Eastern Chu, the Qin family of Southern Chu, the Wan family of Western Chu, and the Yan family of Northern Chu, these four great immortal cultivation families that have been entrenched for many years have profound foundations and can be considered as a lineage of aristocratic families.

This is the "Nine Meridians" theory in the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom.

At that time, the gathering of heroes on Longtan Mountain will be a truly grand event, one that the Chu Kingdom has not seen in more than a decade!

Even a composed cultivator like Xu Wenxuan couldn't help but reveal a hint of longing when the Dragon Pool Gathering was mentioned.

"In this grand competition, the six sects will jointly utilize the wondrous Spirit Revealing Mirror!"

"It can not only project the situation on Longtan Mountain in real time to the viewing squares of various sects, but also reflect the many places in Chu where spiritual energy gathers."

"As long as conditions permit, cultivators across most of the Chu Kingdom, whether they are disciples of sects or independent cultivators in the mountains, can see the magnificent scenery on Dragon Pool Mountain through large water mirrors or specific magic arrays."

“Junior Brother Song, if you can shine brightly at the grand event, you will truly become famous throughout the Chu Kingdom.”

He looked intently at Song Yan, his words full of expectation.

If among the disciples of Dongyuan Sect, there is indeed one who can surpass his peers in this generation, the sect's status in the Chu Kingdom will rise accordingly, and the disciples of the sect will naturally share in the glory.

Upon hearing this, Song Yan was slightly startled.

Although he knew the appointment at Dragon Pool Mountain was grand, he was unaware of such an arrangement, with the entire cultivation world of Chu "watching the live broadcast."

However, his expression remained calm as he exchanged a few polite words: "Senior Brother Xu, you flatter me. The purpose of this competition is to exchange and verify knowledge; it would be a great honor to witness the outstanding talents of fellow practitioners from all over the world."

"For me, it's just a matter of taking it in stride."

"Good!" Xu Wenxuan nodded inwardly at his composure, admiring him even more: "Regardless of the outcome, Junior Brother Song's temperament is already extraordinary."

"Alright, I won't bother you any longer. Junior Brother Song, please make yourself at home. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

After thanking Xu Wenxuan, Song Yan entered the training area.

The cultivation techniques I saw on this trip were no different from those before; most of them were techniques that excelled in the pure attributes of the five elements or special spiritual power.

Its cultivation speed and spiritual power are far superior to the "Minor Profound Qi Scripture," but it either focuses too much on the extreme burst of a single attribute or pursues spiritual power changes of a certain characteristic.

While powerful, it deviates subtly from the fundamental direction pursued by Song Yan.

No longer insisting on cultivation techniques, he searched for ancient books and collections related to Foundation Establishment, borrowing several of them, but there were relatively few that mentioned the so-called Dao patterns.

Still to no avail.

Yan sighed inwardly, but didn't feel much frustration.

Finding what you need in the vast world of cultivation is never easy.

There's plenty of time in the future.

As Xu Wenxuan was leaving, he was answering another inner disciple's question when he saw Song Yan come out and gave him an inquiring look.

Song Yan shook his head slightly to indicate that there was no result.

Xu Wenxuan nodded knowingly, a hint of regret and pity showing in his expression.

Song Yan nodded to him again, then turned and stepped out of the library.

The Dongyuan Sect's mountain gate is majestic, shrouded in clouds and mist, and bathed in brilliant rosy light.

His figure blended into the disciples coming and going in the mountains, his steps steady.

There is still a month and a half until the Dragon Pool Gathering, and most of the matters after Foundation Establishment have been dealt with.

There's only one thing left to do.

A very important matter.

Back in the Earth-character Cave No. 21, Song Yan summoned Xiao Ju and Snake Treasure.

"The Dragon Pool Gathering is approaching, but before that, I have something to do by myself. I don't know when I will be able to finish it."

He took out two jade talismans from his Qiankun bag and handed them to a man and a snake.

The jade talisman, in gold and red, emitted a faint spiritual light and was quite beautiful.

Upon closer inspection, the ancient characters can be faintly discerned.

It is indeed "Longtan Mountain".

This jade talisman is the qualification to attend the Dragon Pool Gathering.

As a participant, Song Yan was naturally entitled to receive some gifts to give to relatives, friends, or his Daoist partner.

Xiao He is considered a spirit pet, but Song Yan isn't sure if they'll need it then, so let's just give one to each person.

"If I am unable to return to the sect before the Dragon Pool Gathering, you should take Xiao He with you, along with these two talismans, and travel ahead on the sect's spirit boat."

"We met at Longtan Mountain."

Xiao Ju carefully accepted the jade talisman and nodded: "Master, please be careful in everything you do."

Snake Baby was somewhat dissatisfied, muttering under its breath.

Now that Yan Yan has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, she's quite impressive. Before, she would take her along wherever she went!

What's so great!

"As long as I cultivate diligently, I can also break through to the second tier!"

She secretly thought to herself, "I'll give him a good scare."

Actually, it wasn't that Song Yan deliberately didn't bring the two of them; rather, he was going back to the Sword Sect this time and wanted to test the teleportation effect of the Taixu Sword Nourishing Chapter.

Of course, it's impossible to bring anyone along.

Song Yan gave a few more instructions, and then left the cave and walked into the depths of the bamboo forest.

In the bamboo courtyard, the Taixu Sword Nourishing Chapter floated in the palm of his hand.

Within the Sword Palace, sword energy surged, flowing from Song Yan's fingertips and palms into Yu Zhang.

As the sword energy was channeled in, the nine sword marks on Zhang's body suddenly peeled away, transforming into fireflies that surrounded him.

In an instant, the air around them rippled slowly like the surface of water.

In a fleeting moment, it felt as if I had sunk from the sky into the water.

His figure vanished in an instant as the light particles coalesced, leaving only a few bamboo leaves, stirred up by the sword energy, swirling and falling to the ground.

A figure solidified from the light of the teleportation.

They landed right in front of the Sword Sect's mountain gate.

After calming himself down, he felt a slight chill in his heart and thought to himself, "This jade seal teleportation is swift and stable. The process takes only a blink of an eye and cannot be easily interrupted by external forces."

"In the event of a chaotic battle or a dangerous situation, it is an excellent means of escape."

He summoned the Yin-Yang Pearl and then slowly walked in the direction he remembered.

Soon, the dense bamboo forest that had once kept him out came into view again.

The forest path was still shrouded in an invisible, restrictive spiritual energy, which flowed and swirled.

As if sensing some energy, the Yin-Yang Bead in the palm of his left hand emitted a low and rhythmic hum once again, with black and white vortices subtly swirling within it.

Upon his return, his strength and level of mastery have changed dramatically.

With a thought, Song Yan felt a surge of powerful sword energy belonging to Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Sword Palace.

His right hand solemnly held up the Sword Sect Jade Seal.

Upon touching the barrier of light at the entrance to the bamboo forest path, the spiritual energy did not block it as it had the first time he came; instead, it surged and receded to both sides!

As the light shifted, a path paved with fallen leaves appeared in the bamboo forest, leading straight to the depths of the Sword Sect.

(End of this chapter)