Xuanjian: I am the Sun Sword Immortal

Time flies, and before I knew it, I had been practicing for over a year. The days passed quietly in my daily practice.

As usual, Xia Yuanming would come to teach him every few days, answering his questions and resolving his doubts, but he never mentioned the matter of becoming his disciple.

Lou Linxian's life gradually took on a fixed rhythm. Every day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), he would get up, sit facing east in the courtyard, wait for the sunrise, and gather qi for an hour before going to the dining hall for breakfast. Then he would continue his cultivation, and occasionally his senior brother Zhao would pull him along to visit some other fellow disciples.

During the day, he spent most of his time nurturing his Xuanjing Wheel. He was indeed exceptionally gifted; his Chengming Wheel naturally formed in the fifth month. That day, after gathering his Qi as usual, he looked inward at his Qi Sea and saw a fainter, thinner halo above his Xuanjing Wheel, like the ethereal glow around the sun's outer edge. The Chengming Wheel didn't require deliberate cultivation; it arose naturally through breathing exercises and nurturing, using the Xuanjing Wheel as its foundation. Its appearance was silent and unnoticed, yet it signified that the second foundation of the six chakras of embryonic breathing had been established.

The nurturing of the Zhouxing Wheel was much more proactive. The Juque Court, located in the center of his chest, was the repository of his Qi. Following the incantations in the original text, he guided the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea upwards, slowly condensing it in the Juque Court. This step was much smoother than the Xuanjing Wheel—with the foundation of the first two wheels, the path for the circulation of spiritual energy had been opened, no longer as bumpy as when he first gathered Qi. Three months later, the Zhouxing Wheel was complete. On the day of its completion, he tried imbuing his eyes with his magic power; he could clearly see the ant colonies moving along the distant mountain path. Imbuing his feet with it, he ran from the courtyard to the dining hall more than 30% faster than usual.

The Azure Yuan Wheel is a process of meticulous refinement. The interpretation states that this round "condenses magical power, transforming qi into essence," which, simply put, involves further purifying and compressing the spiritual energy accumulated in the previous three rounds, elevating the quality of the magical power to a higher level. There is no room for shortcuts in this step; it relies entirely on daily nurturing and polishing. He repeatedly compressed the spiritual energy in his dantian, each compression reducing its volume and intensifying its color. It took more than five months for the originally pale golden spiritual energy to gradually turn golden, and its texture to transition from a gaseous to a liquid state.

Both the Jade Capital Wheel and the Spirit Beginning Wheel reside in the Ascending Sun Palace, the abode of the spirit. The Ascending Sun Palace is located behind the space between his eyebrows, directly below his pale gold mark. Once the Azure Origin Wheel was stable, following the guidance of the Transcendental Treatise, he channeled his magical power upwards from his dantian, through the Giant Gate, past the Twelve-Story Tower, and directly into the Ascending Sun Palace. The moment the Jade Capital Wheel was formed, he felt a cool sensation between his eyebrows. Immediately afterward, his entire head felt as if it had been illuminated by a light. He could perceive the pathways of every meridian and the opening and closing of every acupoint from the inside out, all clearly reflected in his mind. This was "introspection."

The Spiritual Beginning Wheel is the final wheel. It sits atop the Jade Capital Wheel, like the final layer of a tower. When the eighty-first wisp of purified spiritual energy condensed and took shape within the Ascending Sun Palace, the connection between the six wheels finally became unified.

At that moment, Lou Linxian felt a sudden jolt throughout his body's meridians.

The Xuanjing Wheel resides in the Qi Sea, the Chengming Wheel above it, the Zhouxing Wheel at Juque, the Qingyuan Wheel between the Qi Sea and Juque, the Yujing Wheel at Shengyang Palace, and the Lingchu Wheel above Yujing—the six wheels rotate simultaneously in different positions, creating a mysterious resonance among themselves. The magical power originates from the Qi Sea, passes through Chengming, Qingyuan, enters Zhouxing, ascends to Yujing, reaches Lingchu, and then flows back to the Qi Sea along the meridians, completing a grand cycle. Without his deliberate guidance, the magical power flows ceaselessly along this path on its own.

The embryonic breathing is complete.

He opened his eyes, and everything in the courtyard was clearer than ever before. He could sense the faint flow of spiritual energy within the needles of the dwarf pine, the rhythmic flickering of the flames in the earth lamp, and even the faint fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from the disciples walking along the stone path outside the courtyard gate. The spiritual sense granted by the Jade Capital Wheel had been amplified more than twice after the initial completion of the Spiritual Initial Wheel.

He stood up, feeling the abundant power within his body. After more than a year of arduous cultivation, starting from a wisp of solar spiritual energy, and now reaching the sixth stage of perfect cultivation—he had finally reached the end of the embryonic breathing stage, and was only one breath of spiritual energy from heaven and earth away from officially entering the Qi Refining Realm.

A knock sounded at the gate.

Zhao Xingjia's booming voice could be heard clearly even through the door: "Are you going to the market today? You owe me the Desert Wind Spirit Herb from that bet you lost last time, you can't go back on your word!"

Lou Linxian went over and opened the door. Standing outside were not only Zhao Xingjia, but also Xie Zhanfang and Yu Jiuyuan. Yu Jiuyuan leaned against the lamppost by the stone path. Seeing him come out, she raised her chin and said, "Finished your training? You're early today."

Over the past year, the four of them have become acquainted without realizing it. They often get together, gather their qi, and go to the dining hall for breakfast. During the day, they each cultivate their own practices, and if they have free time in the evening, they gather in the stone pavilion to chat about trivial matters of the sect.

"I'm not going today," Lou Linxian said. "I've completed my embryonic breathing practice and need to go find Master Xia."

Zhao Xingjia's mouth opened into a circle.

Yu Jiuyuan looked him up and down, then smiled: "You've reached the peak of your embryonic breathing in less than two years. Junior Brother Fu has the potential to reach the Purple Mansion realm. Don't forget about us when you make it big in the future!"

"Alright, don't keep him waiting." Yu Jiuyuan patted Zhao Xingjia on the back of the head. "We can go. Junior Brother Jifu is a busy man, so we'll have to reschedule for another day."

Xia Yuanming seemed to have been waiting for him all along.

As Lou Linxian reached the courtyard gate, the gate opened from the inside. Xia Yuanming stood inside, his gaze sweeping over Lou Linxian, the crimson flame deep in his pupils flickering slightly, before he nodded.

"The embryonic breathing has been perfected."

"Come with me."

Xia Yuanming didn't say anything and turned to leave. Lou Linxian followed behind him, the two of them walking one after the other through the mountain path towards the summit. He had walked this path once before; on the day he entered the sect, Xia Yuanming had led him up the mountain along this path. But this time, the stone steps seemed longer than he remembered, and the flickering lights on either side cast their shadows, which appeared to be sometimes long and sometimes short, in the twilight.

After walking for a long time, they turned onto a small path they had never taken before, passed through an array, and finally the gate of a grand hall stood before them. The characters on the plaque in front of the hall were so illegible that Lou Linxian stared at it for a long time, and only when he was almost inside the hall did he recognize the two characters "布燥" (Bu Zao).

The hall was empty, but the next moment, a crimson flame erupted from the main seat, and a figure appeared on the stone seat, wearing a crimson Taoist robe with a dark luster. The phoenix pattern embroidered on the collar undulated slightly, as if it were alive.

Lou Linxian was startled. This was a Purple Mansion cultivator, the first Purple Mansion cultivator he had ever seen since arriving in this world. It must be the legendary sect leader, True Person Binghong. Without thinking, he was about to kneel down, but a force held him up.

Xia Yuanming knelt down with a thud: "Master, the embryonic breathing has reached its perfect stage."

The official nodded slightly, and Xia Yuanming stepped aside, standing with his hands at his sides, saying no more.

Only Lou Linxian remained standing at the foot of the steps in the hall. The subterranean fire flowed slowly through the fire-shining stones on the four walls, illuminating the entire hall as if it were the heart of lava.

Master Binghong's gaze immediately fell on him.

Lou Linxian felt the gaze begin between his brows, slowly moving downwards, passing through the twelve-story tower, through the giant gate, and into his Qi Sea, examining each of the six chakras one by one. This was the vision of a Purple Mansion cultivator, capable of seeing through the flow of spiritual energy within a low-level cultivator with just their eyes.

My gaze lingered on his dantian for a very brief moment.

"It's not the 'Sun Palace Reflection Technique'," Master Binghong said calmly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself.

Lou Linxian's heart tightened, but he remained expressionless, simply lowering his head.

But he didn't press for an explanation. He seemed unconcerned whether Lou Linxian could provide one, or perhaps he already knew the answer.

"You've been a disciple for over a year now," said Master Bingying. "Have you ever wondered why I haven't allowed you to formally become a disciple yet?"

Lou Linxian opened his mouth, about to answer.

Master Binghong did not give him a chance to speak, and continued talking.

"Xu Fu, you possess a destiny of extraordinary value." His voice was not loud, yet it resonated with a strange rhythm in the vast hall. "At the age of three, your spiritual aperture manifested, and you were born close to the sun, already possessing a certain sun-transferring gaze. I observe that what you cultivate is not the 'Sun Palace Reflection Technique,' so you must have already awakened your innate wisdom. No matter who you take as your master, they cannot bear the karmic burden of your destiny."

He turned his head and looked at Lou Linxian again, a flicker of fire in his amber eyes.

"Even I couldn't bear it."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Xia Yuanming's breathing caught in his throat, but then returned to normal.

Lou Linxian's heart was stirred. He had long suspected that he was being targeted by a powerful figure, but hearing a Purple Mansion cultivator say this firsthand gave him a new understanding of the significance of this cheat ability.

"However," Master Bingying changed the subject, "if you wish to stay and cultivate within the sect, I can publicly announce that I have accepted you as my disciple. The title of master and disciple will give you an identity; the actual transmission of the Dao will be up to you. What do you say?"

Lou Linxian bowed almost without hesitation: "This disciple is willing."

Master Binghong nodded slightly, and said with a hint of pride, "Remember, I am Long Kang Zhaowu, a cultivator of the Tongxuan Great Dao Divine Killing Dao. Do not disgrace your master's name in the future."

Having said that, he flipped his hand, and something appeared in his palm.

It was a fist-sized, transparent jade bottle containing a wisp of spiritual energy. This energy was a pure gold, more than ten times more concentrated than the purest solar spiritual energy in Lou Lin's Immortal Qi Sea. It flowed slowly within the bottle, each rotation emitting a pale golden halo. Upon touching the bottle's walls, the halo transformed into fine golden runes before dissipating, repeating the cycle endlessly.

Jin Yanghuangyuan.

Lou Linxian's breath hitched slightly. He certainly recognized this spiritual energy. This spiritual energy was transformed from the essence of the sun. Just as those who cultivate the moon need the essence of the moon, those who cultivate the sun cannot do without the essence of the sun and the golden radiance of the sun.

This thing has long been extinct outside.

With a gentle push, Master Binghong caused the jade bottle to float in mid-air and slowly drift to Lou Linxian's front.

"This Golden Sun Essence was specially sent by Jie Yudi," he said. "This substance is only produced in small quantities at the root system of the Tongxin Tree; it has almost disappeared from the outside world, and even in Buzaotian, there are very few of them."

Lou Linxian took the jade bottle. It was warm to the touch, and the golden spiritual energy inside seemed to sense the faint golden mark between his brows, its flow increasing by a third.

"After you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, if you wish, you can visit the Jieyu Grotto-Heaven," said Master Binghong. "There will only be benefits."

Lou Linxian held the jade bottle and remained silent for a moment.

Then bow deeply.

"This disciple has indeed awakened his innate wisdom." His voice was not loud, but steady.

He raised his head and looked at Master Binghong.

"This disciple wishes to remain in the sect to cultivate. I will publicly announce that I have taken the True Man as my master, and I will respectfully follow the True Man's arrangements. If I am fortunate enough to attain enlightenment in the future, I will repay the sect handsomely to express my gratitude for their hospitality."

After saying this, he bent down and bowed three more times.

Master Binghong looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded slightly.

"Go."

Lou Linxian stood up, put the jade bottle into his robes, bowed again, and then turned and walked out of the hall.

He stepped out of the palace gate.

Outside the palace, night had fallen. The earth lanterns of Binghong Gate lit up one after another on both sides of the mountain path, illuminating the entire mountain peak with warmth and tranquility. The crimson glow from the direction of Jieyu Land in the distance had long since disappeared, replaced by a deep blue sky surging in from the direction of the North Sea, dotted with countless stars like scattered pieces of silver.

Lou Linxian stood on the stone steps outside the hall and took a deep breath.

"It seems I really need to make a trip to the Feather-Unraveling Land after reaching Foundation Establishment."