Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

Northwest of Jianzhou, the vast mountains suddenly converge here, embracing a wide basin valley. In the valley, there are no towering immortal mountains or ethereal cloud platforms, but there is a continuous stretch of fortified buildings, scattered according to the terrain.

The walls, built of black stone, are thick and rugged, and the towering watchtowers resemble unsheathed blades, pointing straight to the sky.

Between the fortified villages are flat and open training grounds, the ground paved with hard bluestone, with countless sword marks faintly visible.

The air was filled with a faint metallic aura and the smell of dust. Most of the cultivators coming and going were dressed in tight-fitting clothes and short jackets, carrying or wearing various weapons on their bodies. They moved with a swift pace and had sharp eyes. They lacked the otherworldly air of immortal cultivators, but had more of the competence and bravery of martial arts practitioners.

This place is Huadaowu, one of the seven major sects of Yue Kingdom, famous for its unparalleled flying knife skills.

Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu stood on the mountain path leading to the main fortress, admiring the unique sect scenery, when two sharp beams of light descended from within the fortress, revealing two young cultivators dressed in brown close-fitting clothes and wearing goose-feather sabers at their waists, both with Qi Refining level eight or nine.

"Who goes there? This is the gate of Huadaowu Mountain. No loitering is permitted!" one of them shouted, his gaze sweeping over the two men like lightning.

Li Feiyu cupped his hands and said in a calm tone, "Li Feiyu, a rogue cultivator, along with my wife Han Yunshu, have long admired the reputation of Huadaowu and its unique sword techniques. We have come here to seek refuge and wish to join the sect."

"Become an apprentice?" The disciple frowned. "The Ascension Ceremony has ended. If you have no one to introduce you, you should leave quickly."

Li Feiyu said no more, and with a flick of his wrist, an ordinary iron-backed longsword was in his hand.

The tip of his blade lightly touched the ground. He casually rested one hand on the end of the hilt, his figure as imposing as a mountain. Although he did not exude any spiritual power, a deep and solid sword intent was faintly revealed.

"Oh ho?" Another disciple, seeing this, laughed instead of getting angry, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "Want to 'knock on the door with skill'? Eleventh level of Qi Refining? Perfect, let me see what you've got!"

Before the words were even finished, the two drew their swords simultaneously, their figures intersecting, one on the left and one on the right. Two gleaming blades flashed past with a whooshing sound! Their swordsmanship was ruthless and direct, displaying the style of a top-tier mortal swordsman, and further enhanced by the infusion of spiritual energy, making it even more powerful.

Li Feiyu's eyes narrowed slightly. Just as the blade was about to strike, his right hand, which was on the hilt of the sword, suddenly exerted force—not by gripping tightly, but by spreading his five fingers wide, unleashing a burst of energy!

"Slash Away from the Blade!"

Under the control of his inner energy, the iron-backed longsword hummed and spun rapidly five inches from his hand! Li Feiyu moved accordingly, making a smooth and swift semi-elliptical turn, his feet seemingly slippery yet not slippery, and he leaped backward six or seven zhang like lightning.

Driven by centrifugal force, the long sword that was suspended in mid-air and spinning rapidly suddenly burst out with a dazzling oval-shaped white sword aura, tearing through the air and rebounding towards the two disciples of the Blade Transformation Pavilion at an incredible speed and angle!

Even more strangely, as the sword energy burst forth, the afterimage of Li Feiyu wielding the sword and slashing forward also remained solid and did not dissipate, closely following the sword energy and rushing forward. The real and the illusory intertwined, confusing people's vision!

The two disciples' pupils shrank suddenly. They saw a dazzling light of swords and chaotic afterimages. The incomparably sharp sword energy had blocked all angles of evasion. In horror, they could only gather all their spiritual power, cross their swords, and meet the attack head-on!

"Clang!"

With a deafening clang of metal clashing, the two men groaned and staggered backward, their longswords nearly slipping from their grasp, their hands splitting open. The white blade energy and its afterimage had already recoiled after the collision, instantly disappearing into the longsword in Li Feiyu's hand. He slid back, the tip of his blade already firmly positioned three inches from the throat of one of the disciples, and everything came to a standstill.

"You flatter me." Li Feiyu sheathed his sword, his breathing steady.

"Excellent swordsmanship!" A loud cheer rang out like a thunderclap.

A burly figure flew in, riding a broadsword as wide as a door panel, and landed with a thud.

The newcomer had a leopard-like head and piercing eyes, a full beard, and bulging muscles. He carried a sheathless, massive, ghost-head-shaped blade slung across his back, exuding an aura of wild arrogance. His cultivation level was clearly at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

"Uncle Yue!" The two Qi Refining disciples quickly bowed, their faces showing shame.

Uncle Yue casually waved his hand, his copper bell-like eyes fixed intently on Li Feiyu, and praised, "What superb swordsmanship! It combines agility and domineering power, and the afterimages used to confuse the enemy are ingenious ideas. Although it seems to be a transcendent martial art, its artistic conception is already extraordinary! With this skill, you are indeed qualified to enter my Blade Transformation Pavilion."

He abruptly changed the subject, flipping his large, fan-like hand to toss out a fist-sized, crystal-clear spirit-testing ball: "However, to join my sect, swordsmanship alone isn't enough; aptitude is also crucial. Come, let me see your spiritual root aptitude!"

Li Feiyu took the spirit-testing ball, and with a slight thought, he activated two basic techniques. His spiritual aperture immediately reacted, indicating that the spiritual energy of "metal" and "wood" had reacted and been sensed by the spirit-testing ball.

The spirit-testing sphere immediately lit up, with two beams of light, one gold and one green, shining brightly. Although both were bright, the green beam was slightly less bright than the gold.

"Dual spiritual roots of metal and wood? Metal as the primary element and wood as the secondary element? Not bad, especially the metal spiritual root, which is quite pure and very suitable for cultivating the sword techniques of my Huadaowu." Uncle Yue nodded, his eyes showing even greater appreciation. Good swordsmanship and suitable spiritual root attributes—this is simply a gift delivered to his door.

Li Feiyu casually handed the spirit-testing ball to Han Yunshu beside him.

Han Yunshu followed his instructions and infused his magic power. The next moment—

hum!

The spirit-testing ball suddenly burst forth with a pure, rich, and unadulterated emerald green light. The light was so intense that it seemed to soar into the sky, illuminating the surrounding area for several feet in a shimmering green glow!

"Wood-type Heavenly Spiritual Root!!!" Uncle Yue's exclamation was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. His eyes widened, and his full beard seemed to stand up.

The two disciples beside him were even more dumbfounded, their mouths agape.

A Heavenly Spiritual Root! This is a legendary cultivation prodigy. As long as they don't die young, they are almost guaranteed to reach the Core Formation stage, and may even have a chance to glimpse the Nascent Soul stage!

"Hahaha! Heaven blesses my Huadaowu!" Uncle Yue suddenly came to his senses, his face flushed with excitement. He grabbed Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu's arms with astonishing strength. "Junior brother! Junior sister! Don't say anything more, hurry, come with me to pay respects to Master! No, pay respects to the Sect Leader! No, we must see my Master first!"

Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu: "..."

Two Qi Refining disciples: "..."

This rapid change of attitude and enthusiasm truly caught everyone off guard.

Under Yue Qing's energetic leadership, the two were able to venture deep into the interior of the Blade Transformation Dock.

Along the way, the fortified villages are crisscrossed by alleyways, and their layout is more like a military fortress, prioritizing practicality.

Many buildings are carved or stacked directly from huge stones, and the upturned eaves are often carved into the shape of knife blades.

In the largest training ground, hundreds of disciples were practicing the art of throwing knives. The sky was filled with the light of countless knives, and the sound of them cutting through the air was deafening, creating a spectacular sight.

The central main hall is not a magnificent palace with carved beams and painted rafters, but a grand stone hall built entirely of black rock, resembling a fortress main building magnified countless times. A huge stone knife relief hangs on the lintel, simple, rugged, and domineering, which is the symbol of Huadaowu.

Yue Qing did not lead them to the main hall or the sect leader's place, but went straight to a spacious cave in front of the back mountain.

At the entrance to the cave was a smooth stone slab, with stone locks, knife stakes, and other items placed there, making it look more like a martial arts training ground.

"Master! Master! Come out quickly! This is incredible news!!" Yue Qing shouted, his voice echoing across the surrounding area.

"What are you howling about! You have no manners!" An impatient rebuke came from inside the cave, followed by a faint aura of a Core Formation stage cultivator emanating from within.

A middle-aged man wearing a gray cloth jacket, hemp shoes, and with his hair casually tied up came out.

He had a rugged face, dark skin, and large knuckles. If it weren't for the unfathomable spiritual pressure emanating from him, he would have looked more like a blacksmith from a mountain village or a seasoned镖头 (bodyguard/escort).

Yue Qing was not afraid at all and excitedly shouted, "Master! Heavenly Spiritual Root! We found a Heavenly Spiritual Root in Huadaowu! And this Junior Brother Li, his swordsmanship is unparalleled. Like you, he comes from a mortal martial arts background, but his methods are even more extraordinary!" He quickly recounted what had happened outside the mountain gate.

"A Heavenly Spiritual Root? Really?" The Core Formation cultivator's gaze flashed like lightning, instantly landing on Han Yunshu. He probed her with a slight pressure, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. He then looked at Li Feiyu, his interest deepening. "A master of swordsmanship? Of mortal origin?"

Soon, several more powerful spiritual senses swept across the area, alerting the other Core Formation elders of Huadaowu, who all appeared.

Upon seeing Han Yunshu's Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude, everyone was both delighted and amazed.

"It's actually a wood-type celestial spiritual root... It's a pity, a pity!" A red-faced elder stroked his beard and shook his head repeatedly. "If it were a metal or fire type, it would perfectly match the attributes of my Huadaowu cultivation technique and would surely become a pillar of the sect in the future! Wood type... Although it is also top-grade, it is ultimately lacking in offensive capabilities."

"So what if it's a wood element? A Heavenly Spiritual Root is a Heavenly Spiritual Root! Its cultivation speed far surpasses yours and mine, and it's expected to form a Core Formation or Nascent Soul in the future. It's still part of the foundation of my Huadaowu!" another elder retorted.

"This kid's dual spiritual roots of metal and wood are not bad, with metal as the main element. His swordsmanship is also good. He's a promising talent."

After a brief discussion, the elders inquired about the backgrounds of Li Feiyu and his companion. Seeing their natural demeanor and composed expressions, and considering that the cost of such a combination—a "Heavenly Spiritual Root + True Spiritual Root Daoist Couple"—being an undercover agent was ridiculously high and the possibility was extremely slim, they quickly reached a consensus.

The process was extremely fast. In just two hours, Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu were officially registered in the sect's jade register and became disciples of Chang Hao, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, thus becoming Yue Qing's junior brothers and sisters.

Chang Hao holds a special position within the Huadaowu (Blade Transformation Pavilion), having joined fifty years ago. His "Earth-Splitting Blade Qi" technique is infamous. Furthermore, due to his background in the mortal martial arts world, he has a favorable impression of Li Feiyu, who also possesses mortal martial arts skills.

After the apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Chang Hao led the two to a quiet room in his cave dwelling, where he bestowed upon them tokens and clothing representing their status as inner disciples, as well as the first six levels of the basic cultivation technique of Huadaowu, the "Golden Light Blade Technique".

He waved Yue Qing away, then stroked his chin and re-examined the two newly accepted disciples before him. His gaze swept back and forth between them, and he suddenly asked, "Since you two are Daoist partners, traveling and cultivating together, logically speaking, Yun Shu's Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude should allow her cultivation speed to far surpass Fei Yu's True Spiritual Root. Why, judging from your spiritual energy fluctuations, Fei Yu, you seem to be slightly stronger, approaching the eleventh level of perfection, while Yun Shu has only recently entered the eleventh level?"

Han Yunshu subconsciously said, "Brother Li is exceptionally talented and has outstanding comprehension, so naturally..."

"Bullshit!" Chang Hao interrupted rudely, glaring at him. "A true spiritual root is more talented than a heavenly spiritual root? Do you even think that's right?"

Li Feiyu inwardly cried out, "I was careless." His understanding of the differences in spiritual roots in the cultivation world was still superficial. He subconsciously thought that his slightly higher cultivation level was due to his "experience" and "cultivation techniques," but he underestimated the abnormality represented by this slight difference in the eyes of others.

Chang Hao's gaze gradually sharpened, scrutinizing him: "You two... you wouldn't actually be spies sent by another party, would you? Although the two of you are a perfect match for spies, there's always something fishy going on."

Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu felt a chill run down their spines and decisively shook their heads: "Definitely not a spy!"

"That's good." Chang Hao seemed relieved, but his doubts remained. He stroked his beard and said, "Never mind, perhaps there's another opportunity. By the way, what kind of cultivation technique did you practice before? Let me see it."

Li Feiyu sensed something was wrong. This master seemed rough and unrefined, but he was actually quite shrewd.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and respectfully hand over the copy of "Changchun Gong" that he had obtained from Han Li, which he had obtained from his storage bag.

Chang Hao took a look and his brows immediately furrowed: "The Everlasting Spring Technique? Or is it just a fragment with only eight levels? That can't be right, you two are already at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, what happens after the eighth level of this technique?"

Li Feiyu knew that he had to give a reasonable and shocking explanation at this moment in order to dispel doubts and even turn the "abnormality" into "capital".

He took a deep breath, his face showing a mixture of shame and lingering fear, and said in a deep voice:

"Reporting back to Master, there is no method to achieve success after the eighth level of the Everlasting Spring Technique."

"Huh?" Chang Hao was taken aback.

"After Yun Shu and I reached the eighth level of cultivation, we were unaware of the existence of the cultivation world and thought our path of cultivation had been cut off. Helpless, I had no choice but to rely on my understanding of the operation of the first eight levels of the technique, combined with my own cultivation experience, to try to deduce the subsequent cultivation route on my own..."

Li Feiyu's tone was calm, yet it was like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirring up a storm in Chang Hao's heart.

"Each time, I first try to cultivate according to the deduced path, and only after confirming that it is correct and without any hidden dangers, do I pass it on to Yun Shu to cultivate. Therefore, I always have to spend more time trying and adjusting to the new level than her, so my cultivation progress is... barely a little faster. I'm sorry for making a fool of myself in front of Master."

The room was deathly silent.

Chang Hao stared at Li Feiyu, mouth agape, the book nearly slipping from his hand. He looked at Li Feiyu as if he were a monster. His hands, usually steady as a rock when wielding a knife, were trembling slightly.

Self-deduce the cultivation technique?!

Or is he just a rogue cultivator in the Qi Refining stage?!

Not only did he master it himself, but he could also guide his Daoist partner with a Heavenly Spiritual Root to master it together?!

What astonishing insight and talent!

No, is that right?