Flying Sword

When Little White also came over, Lin Chan checked its cultivation progress again.

It was similarly lacking in improvement.

He could only conclude that they were originally ordinary cats and dogs, and it was only thanks to the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger's mouthful of blood essence that they could cultivate at all.

Following Little White around Yaoguang Peak for a while, Lin Chan noticed that there were indeed many female disciples here.

Most of the female disciples didn't wear the Daoist robes issued by Shu Mountain; instead, they wore colorful silk skirts, highly personalized.

Even the Registered Disciples were the same.

Of course, this had little to do with Lin Chan.

He only stayed briefly before sending Little Li and Little White back to Dian Mo.

After that, Lin Chan cultivated as usual.

Spring passed and summer arrived; another half year went by.

Lin Chan smoothly broke through to Qi Cultivation Layer 2 and had already covered most of the ground within that layer. His internal spiritual power had multiplied several times over, no longer draining dry after just a few uses of the Cleaning Spell like before.

One morning, when the morning dew had not yet dried.

Lin Chan opened his eyes, and the first thing he did was check the messages on his Identity Jade Pendant.

Finally, he received word from his master, True Person Xuan Chen, asking him to come over.

"It's finally done."

Lin Chan's face was full of smiles.

He had waited half a year, and at last, his Flying Sword was ready.

Without a Flying Sword, his [Heart Sword Same Origin Art] was no different from the outer sect's Qi cultivation methods—nothing remarkable about it.

With a nervous heart, Lin Chan arrived at True Person Xuan Chen's palace.

"Chan'er, I kept you waiting so long. You must have been anxious! But your master wanted to refine it with care, so it took a bit more time."

True Person Xuan Chen said calmly.

"It wasn't a long wait at all, Master. Your diligence in crafting it is also a benefit to me."

Lin Chan quickly replied.

"Fortunately, no time was wasted, and no mistakes occurred."

True Person Xuan Chen brought out the refined Flying Sword. It was two feet three inches long, its entire body a dark, ashen gray with a cold, matte sheen. A faint ice pattern ran along the spine of the blade, and the edge was as thin as a cicada's wing, sharp enough to split a hair, with bone-chilling cold radiating from it.

Just looking at the sword from a distance, Lin Chan couldn't help but swallow.

His nascent Sword Heart, though only a rough form, already had a certain resonance with swords—seeing one filled him with joy.

"Take it and have a look."

True Person Xuan Chen said with a smile.

When he was young, he had loved swords just as Lin Chan did now.

"Thank you, Master!"

Lin Chan grasped the hilt of the sword floating in the air and examined it closely.

"The quality of this sword is just shy of reaching the rank of a Dharma Artifact. But if it were a Dharma Artifact, you wouldn't be able to control it now, so I had to lower its quality slightly. After you reach Foundation Establishment, you can refine it with your core flame for some time, and its quality will be restored to that of a Dharma Artifact."

While Lin Chan was inspecting the Flying Sword, True Person Xuan Chen also explained its quality.

Hearing this, Lin Chan immediately cupped his hands to True Person Xuan Chen again:

"Thank you, Master, for granting me the sword!"

During this time, Lin Chan had also read many Daoist texts and knew that a Top Grade Magic Tool was extremely valuable—enough to make many Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators fight to the death over it.

"This is what I promised you."

True Person Xuan Chen said.

Then, True Person Xuan Chen took out a scabbard and tossed it to Lin Chan.

Under True Person Xuan Chen's control, the sword in Lin Chan's hand lifted and slid into the scabbard.

"Before Foundation Establishment, do not draw the sword from its sheath."

True Person Xuan Chen gave his final instruction.

"Yes!"

Lin Chan agreed repeatedly.

"As for the Awakening Spirit and Sword Offering Ritual, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, on the night of the full moon, will be the perfect time."

True Person Xuan Chen had calculated the auspicious day for Lin Chan.

"I understand, Master."

Lin Chan nodded. On the night of the Mid-Autumn full moon, he would perform the Sword Offering Ritual and bind the sword to his bloodline.

He had already learned the [Heart Sword Same Origin Art], so he would complete everything himself this time, without troubling True Person Xuan Chen further.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Before Lin Chan left, True Person Xuan Chen spoke up.

"Still about the Si Mu Tiger Demon. After your Sword Offering Ritual, go with Xu Chang to Wu Country to find it and settle this matter. Once it's done, I'll pick a sword technique suited for you."

"Yes!"

Lin Chan's heart jolted as he nodded.

He'd nearly forgotten about this—ultimately, there was no escaping it.

Leaving True Person Xuan Chen's palace, Lin Chan returned to his cave dwelling to practice spells and meditate on refining his spirit.

Not until the sun set in the west did Lin Chan step out of his cave dwelling and head to Xu Chang's, waiting for his Sixth Senior Brother to return.

Xu Chang had already reached Foundation Establishment, long past the stage of secluded hard training. He needed to take on tasks daily to earn more Talisman Coins.

"Senior Brother!"

Lin Chan greeted him.

"Little Junior Brother, do you have a question to ask?"

Xu Chang said with a smile, ushering Lin Chan inside.

Lin Chan didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight in. He'd stayed in Xu Chang's cave dwelling for a while before, so it wasn't unfamiliar.

"In a few months, are you taking me to Wu Country to find the Si Mu Tiger Demon?"

Lin Chan cut straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"That's right. Master did tell me to escort you there and bring you back."

Xu Chang recalled the task True Person Xuan Chen had given him a few days ago.

"Does Senior Brother know the tiger demon has Five Hundred Years of Dao?"

Lin Chan asked.

"Master mentioned it. Little Junior Brother, you're really lucky to stumble into such an opportunity. When I was building up Merit for Foundation Establishment, I drifted outside for over a decade, struggling to gather enough."

Xu Chang said with some envy.

Accumulating the Merit needed for Foundation Establishment was no easy task.

Basically, from the late Qi Cultivation stage onward, you had to train outside, punishing evil and upholding the righteous path.

You'd need to resolve disasters caused by at least ten Foundation Establishment-level demonic beasts just to barely scrape together enough.

And even then, that Merit only added a certain probability—it wasn't guaranteed.

Only a Merit level like Lin Chan's—a few words that reformed a Core Formation-level man-eating tiger that had devoured nearly ten thousand people, with even Core Formation True Persons scheming behind the scenes—could ensure a hundred percent Foundation Establishment.

No wonder True Person Xuan Ji, True Person Xuan Chen's junior sister, was so furious.

Behind this Merit lay countless schemes of hers.

"Back then, I was a mortal, untouched by cultivation, so I dared to speak recklessly to an immortal. But now, at Qi Cultivation Layer 2, knowing more, I dare not say much. Besides, the Si Mu Tiger Demon suddenly fled to Wu Country—something must have happened. If it learns I've joined Shu Mountain, it might not come to see me."

Lin Chan said helplessly.

"Please, Junior Brother, tell me in detail about your encounter with the tiger demon that day."

Xu Chang grew serious.

Lin Chan then recounted the events of that night from start to finish.

"That tiger demon reached Five Hundred Years of Dao in just a few decades. Aside from its own decent talent and speeding up cultivation by eating people, it met two benefactors: one was that nameless Old Monk, and the other was you, Junior Brother. If you hadn't taught it in time and guided it onto the right path, it would probably have been killed by Martial Uncle Xuan Ji by now."

After understanding the whole story, Xu Chang instead felt the Si Mu Tiger Demon was quite fortunate.

"Senior Brother, I suspect Martial Uncle Xuan Ji did something that made an enemy of the Si Mu Tiger Demon."

Lin Chan recalled how furious Martial Uncle Xuan Ji looked on the day he entered the sect—he was sure she wouldn't let this go easily.

She must have done something to the tiger demon, causing it to flee thousands of miles.

His trip with Xu Chang might not go smoothly.