Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

No more than three days after their seclusion ended, the names of Lin Yan and the other four had spread throughout the entire outer sect disciples' courtyard.

Lin Yan's cultivation at the seventh level of Qi Refining, his token as a core disciple of the outer sect, his privilege of choosing any cultivation method from the Scripture Pavilion, and the increasingly extraordinary spirit turtle by the Spirit Spring have made him a rising star in the eyes of the outer sect disciples who are not to be trifled with.

The tree wants to be calm and the wind does not stop.

Su Chen and Zhao Kui returned from their sentence, their punishment of sweeping the mountain paths over, but their resentment only grew stronger. The two hid in a secluded bamboo hut area where the disciples of Qingfeng Town lived, whispering among themselves as they watched Lin Yan's figure by the spirit spring, their words filled with jealousy and resentment.

"He's just taking advantage of the protection of the True Person and reaping the rewards of the forbidden area. How dare a newcomer who just entered the mountain occupy the position of core disciple?" Su Chen's fingers gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, his face was gloomy, and his tone was sarcastic.

Zhao Kui's body surged with seventh-level Qi Refining power, his eyes fierce: "Just wait, the outer sect competition is about to begin. I will expose his true colors in public, cripple his cultivation, and let him know that the outer sect is not a place where he can act recklessly!"

This conversation quickly reached the ears of the other disciples, and rumors spread. Some echoed that Lin Yan's cultivation was entirely due to the accumulation of elixirs, some slandered him for relying on opportunism for his opportunities, and some even went so far as to secretly slander the spirit turtle beside him as an evil creature.

When Lin Yan heard these rumors, he was standing by the spiritual spring, his fingertips caressing the jade slip of "Sword Finger of Waves" that he had just retrieved from the Scripture Pavilion. His expression was calm, without anger or annoyance. Cultivating immortality was inherently a struggle against the heavens, and criticism and jealousy were never worth taking to heart. Only strength was the foundation for standing on the path of immortality.

"Brother Lin, there's no need to pay attention to the rumors. Your strength is evident to all, and the two True Immortals, Qingxuan and Danxuan, have always valued you highly. These noises won't cause any trouble." Ye Qing walked over slowly, holding the newly copied cultivation manual in his hand, his tone calm and steady.

Yunxi and Yi Azhu also walked out of the bamboo house one after another. Yunxi's fingertips were on the hilt of the sword at her waist. Her cold eyes were filled with a fierce protectiveness: "If anyone dares to come and provoke me, I will wipe them out for you." Chen Dagang clenched his fists and said in a muffled voice that he was going to teach those gossiping disciples a lesson.

Lin Yan raised his hand to stop the crowd, his gaze fixed on the clouds swirling above the Spirit Spring, a determined glint in his eyes: "No need for idle chatter. Today, I have something more important to do—fly on my sword."

The four of them were taken aback by the words.

In Laoshan cultivation, sword control is a watershed moment. One can only draw qi into the sword at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and barely be able to fly at the seventh level, requiring several months of practice. Lin Yan has only broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining a few days ago, and his foundation is not yet fully stable. It is too hasty for him to try sword control directly.

"Brother Lin, sword control requires a high degree of harmony between mind and spiritual power. You have just broken through to the next realm, and your spiritual power is still unstable. Trying it rashly could easily damage your meridians," Ye Qing quickly advised.

Yunxi frowned slightly and nodded in agreement: "I have been practicing swordsmanship for many years, and I have practiced guiding qi into the sword repeatedly for half a month. You must not be impatient for quick results."

"I know what I'm doing." Lin Yan said calmly, and with a slight turn of his palm, the peach wood sword that had been with him since he entered the world, slaying sea monsters in fishing villages, blocking the bone-corroding lizards in forbidden areas, and resisting the bone-corroding evil shadow aura, was now in his hand.

This sword appears simple and ordinary, with rough wood grain and no dazzling spiritual light like a spirit weapon. However, it has long been imbued with the spiritual energy inherited from the Canglan Sea Emperor, and has been nurtured day and night by the spiritual spring. It has also been tainted with the evil energy of many evil spirits, and has long since shed its ordinary wood quality. It contains the charm of purifying evil and suppressing evil, and is naturally compatible with his pure water spiritual power. It is far more suitable for him than the spirit weapon bestowed by the sect, and is also a testament to his journey.

He handed the jade slip of "Shadow Chasing Steps" to Chen Dagang, instructing him to study it carefully and adapt it to physical cultivation. He then instructed Yunxi to use her sword intent to help him stabilize his mind, and Ye Qing to use wood-type spiritual power to harmonize the surrounding spiritual energy and prevent it from becoming disordered. Although everyone was still worried, they stood still as instructed, each performing their duties to protect him.

Lin Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, taking a deep breath of the pure spiritual energy from the spring, his aura gradually becoming peaceful. He fully activated the "Laoshan Sea-Watching Technique," and the spiritual light inherited from the Canglan Sea Emperor surged within his dantian, resonating with the wave patterns on the Sea-Watching Inkstone. The extremely pure water-attribute spiritual energy flowed along his meridians and slowly surged towards the peach wood sword in his palm.

"Guide your Qi, channel it into your sword!"

He let out a low shout, and his spiritual power suddenly poured into the sword.

The peach wood sword vibrated and hummed instantly, its blade emitting a faint, shimmering white light. However, due to the hasty control of the spiritual energy, the light dissipated in an instant, and the wooden sword plummeted downwards, nearly slipping out of control. The first attempt ended in failure.

Lin Yan remained calm and composed, wiping away the thin layer of sweat from his forehead, and focused his mind to try again. This time, he slowed down the flow of spiritual energy, blending the gentle warmth of the Sea Gazing Technique with the condensation of the Sea Emperor Technique. Using his mind as a guide, he led the spiritual energy little by little into every texture of the peach wood sword, awakening the pure and evil spiritual charm hidden within the sword.

hum-

A long, drawn-out sword cry rang out, no longer the restlessness of before, but a warm and steady resonance. The peach wood sword gleamed with a lustrous white light, and a clear spiritual energy spread along its blade, merging with the water-attribute spiritual energy surrounding Lin Yan. Subtle spiritual charms flowed faintly across the sword, and a faint aura of suppressing evil and purifying the air quietly dissipated, making the surrounding air appear clearer.

"become!"

Lin Yan's mind stirred, and he silently recited the sword control incantation. The peach wood sword suspended in his palm slowly rose into the air, three feet off the ground, its spiritual light stable and motionless.

The realm of sword mastery lies in soaring through the air and treading on swords in mid-air.

Lin Yan's eyes narrowed, and he mobilized all the spiritual energy in his dantian. At the same time, he locked his divine sense firmly onto the peach wood sword. With a light step, his spiritual energy supported his body, and he moved towards the suspended peach wood sword. His spiritual energy surged around him, and a light blue spiritual energy enveloped him, intertwining and merging with the shimmering white aura of the peach wood sword, becoming one with it.

"rise!"

With another soft shout, the peach wood sword suddenly rose upwards, steadily supporting Lin Yan's body and slowly lifting him off the ground. Three feet, five zhang, seven zhang... He stood atop the ancient peach wood sword, his robes fluttering in the mountain wind, a spiritual spring gushing beneath his feet, the verdant peaks of Laoshan Mountain stretching before him, and clouds and mist swirling around him, making him appear like a young cultivator standing in mid-air, full of vigor and ambition.

As he first wielded the longsword, his figure inevitably swayed slightly. In addition, having only recently broken through to the next realm, his spiritual energy was being consumed too quickly. When he rose to a height of seven zhang, his meridians began to ache, and his spiritual energy in his dantian was almost depleted, causing his figure to become somewhat unstable for a moment.

"Brother, be careful!" Yi Azhu couldn't help but exclaim. Yun Xi and Ye Qing also focused their attention instantly, their spiritual energy surging, ready to help at any moment.

Lin Yan was resolute and immediately activated his innate connection with the spirit turtle.

The next second, the spirit turtle lying by the spring suddenly raised its head, and all the ancient black patterns on its shell lit up. The pale blue primordial spiritual light rose into the sky along with the steam from the spiritual spring, transforming into a slender yet pure chain of light that flowed directly into Lin Yan's dantian. Accompanied by a deep and warm turtle call, it penetrated straight into his soul.

The depleted spiritual energy was instantly replenished!

Lin Yan steadied himself, his divine sense becoming increasingly refined. He slowly manipulated the peach wood sword to change direction in the air, sometimes swirling and weaving with the mountain wind, sometimes skimming low over the spiritual spring. Although the peach wood sword had no sharpness of a spiritual weapon, it was extremely agile. When flying, it was light and steady. Wherever it passed, the residual turbid air of the forbidden area was completely cleansed by the sword's power of purification.

He combined the essential principles of the "Shadow Chasing Step" movement technique, adjusted his center of gravity and spiritual energy output, and in less than half an incense stick's time, he became completely familiar with the rhythm of sword control. From the initial awkwardness and tentative attempts, he became smooth and flowing, freely shuttling between the clouds and mist. The young man's figure was upright, and he flew through the air on his sword, showing the sharpness of a young immortal.

"Brother Lin is amazing!" Chen Dagang couldn't help but cheer loudly. Yunxi's eyes flashed with surprise and approval, Ye Qing also showed admiration, and Yi Azhu clapped her hands, her eyes full of worship.

Lin Yan controlled the peach wood sword and slowly landed back on the ground. He sheathed the sword and stood up. The aura of the seventh level of Qi Refining around him became more and more stable and refined. After this sword control, the realm he had just broken through was completely stabilized, and his divine sense also improved a bit.

He held the peach wood sword in his hand, feeling the lingering warmth of the spiritual energy on the blade with his fingertips, and his mind suddenly became clear.

This scene was witnessed by Master Danxuan, who was on patrol.

Master Danxuan approached slowly, his eyes filled with undisguised praise, and said loudly, "Good! You have just completed the seventh level of Qi Refining and you can already control a sword with ordinary wood and fly freely in the air. Your temperament and talent are both excellent. Lin Yan, you have not disappointed the sect's high expectations."

Lin Yan quickly bowed and said, "This disciple is fortunate to have received the help of the spirit turtle. There are still many shortcomings, and I hope the True Person can give me some guidance."

"This sword may seem ordinary, but it has been imbued with spiritual energy and inherited power as you slay demons and suppress evil. It shares the same source as your spiritual power and possesses the effect of purifying evil and suppressing malevolent forces, making it far more suitable for you than ordinary spiritual weapons." Master Danxuan's gaze fell on the peach wood sword, and he nodded slightly. He then instructed, "The path of sword mastery is long. Remember to lay a solid foundation and do not rush into anything. The outer sect competition is approaching. As a core disciple, you should set an example and diligently cultivate."

After speaking, Master Danxuan turned and left.

Under the shade of a tree not far away, Su Chen and Zhao Kui watched Lin Yan, who was flying through the air on a sword and receiving high praise from the immortals. Their faces were ashen, filled with jealousy and resentment, but they dared not approach him. They could only leave in anger. The rumors and gossip from before were also refuted by this amazing sword-wielding technique.

Lin Yan gripped the peach wood sword in his hand, feeling the spiritual energy flowing through his body and the power of his initial sword control, his eyes filled with even greater determination.

Riding a sword through Laoshan is just the beginning.