The Ten-Year Pact

After Xu Chang took his leave, True Person Xuan Chen looked at Lin Chan and asked with concern in his tone:

"Did you truly encounter no danger on this trip?"

"None at all."

Lin Chan had already prepared his story.

In the past, Lin Chan would have trusted True Person Xuan Chen nine times out of ten.

But this time, after True Person Xuan Chen sent him out, he himself lost the Seventh Grade Merit. Although it had nothing to do with True Person Xuan Chen, a seed of discord had been planted in Lin Chan's heart.

Indeed, in the end, one can only trust oneself.

"This time, sending you to meet that Tiger Demon was Elder Xuan Ku of Kaiyang Peak's suggestion. The reason, naturally, is that you're familiar with that Tiger Demon, and since we True Persons of Shu Mountain aren't convenient for meddling in Wu Country's affairs, we dispatched you instead."

True Person Xuan Chen added an extra explanation—he didn't have to say any of this.

When a True Person orders you to do something, do you dare ask why?

"I know you weren't willing to meet that Tiger Demon, and the Tiger Demon is indeed dangerous. That's why I later gave you the Grand Summoning Talisman, to prevent any mishaps."

Only afterward did True Person Xuan Chen realize that sending Lin Chan wasn't improper, yet it was also a great impropriety.

After all, people are fickle, let alone demons.

Besides that, True Person Xuan Ji was another headache for True Person Xuan Chen.

He had noticed that in recent years, True Person Xuan Ji had become somewhat obsessed, her state of mind no longer stable.

True Person Xuan Chen worried that she might disregard her senior status and bully the junior. As it turned out, the worst hadn't happened.

Xuan Ji wouldn't stoop to settling scores with a junior disciple.

Of course, this was from True Person Xuan Chen's perspective.

He couldn't constantly spy on his own junior sister and track her every move.

And True Person Xuan Ji wouldn't make her dirty deeds obvious.

"Master, among the juniors of Tianquan Peak, I'm the only one who knows that Tiger Demon. It's only right that I go. Being able to share Shu Mountain's burdens is my honor."

Lin Chan showed no sign of resentment on his face.

But in his heart, he already knew exactly who was pulling the strings.

As for the matter of the Merit being used up, Lin Chan didn't reveal a word.

He had deliberately placed the Lesser Merit Record into his Storage Bag, precisely to prevent this from coming to light.

Back then, the main reason True Person Xuan Chen had accepted him as a disciple was that great Merit was hard to come by, and Foundation Establishment was difficult.

Perhaps Lin Chan was being overly sensitive, but he feared that if this were exposed, he would be expelled from the sect.

Then True Person Xuan Ji would have an even easier time dealing with him.

Still, given True Person Xuan Chen's current attitude, he wouldn't discard a spent tool. Lin Chan was just worried about that one-in-a-million chance.

In his past life, he was an orphan, never valued by anyone. In this life, he was also abandoned by the main branch of the Lushan Lin Family, so his nature was a bit more sensitive.

"Alright, this matter is in the past. Let's not dwell on it. Let's talk about your cultivation instead."

True Person Xuan Chen changed the subject, unwilling to say more on this topic.

"Master, what sword technique do you intend to teach me?"

Lin Chan's eyes lit up.

The [Heart Sword Same Origin Art] was a cultivation method, not a combat technique.

"I had already thought of a sword technique perfectly suited for you. But I realized your cultivation aptitude is somewhat lacking, and your knowledge of the cultivation world is limited—there's still much you need to learn. If I teach you a sword technique now, it might distract you from cultivation and hinder your path. That would be counterproductive."

True Person Xuan Chen spoke seriously.

Within Shu Mountain, there were no shortage of sword fanatics, both old and young.

But those sword fanatics all had decent talent. Even if they spent all day practicing swords, it wouldn't hinder their cultivation.

Lin Chan was different. He only had a slightly special constitution, lacking even a Spiritual Root. Every step of his future cultivation would be arduous.

If Lin Chan also became a sword fanatic, it would only derail his proper path.

"Master, your disciple won't neglect daily cultivation. I'll only practice in my spare time!"

Lin Chan quickly said.

Now that his Merit was gone, it might be exposed at any time, and he could be kicked out of Shu Mountain. If he didn't even have a means of fighting, that would be disastrous.

Moreover, without Merit now, if he wanted to use Merit for Foundation Establishment, after reaching late-stage Qi Cultivation, he would have to go out and train, punishing evil and promoting good.

All of this required his own strength as a guarantee.

'He really does have a tendency toward sword obsession.'

Seeing Lin Chan like this, True Person Xuan Chen only grew more firm in his conviction.

"Chan'er, say no more. If you break through to Foundation Establishment, I will naturally teach you the sword technique best suited for you. And if you want to learn my secret sword arts, I wouldn't refuse to teach you either."

True Person Xuan Chen closed his eyes, unwilling to say more.

"Master, you promised me this—teach it to me when I return. And now..."

Lin Chan seized the key point but didn't finish his sentence, not wanting to burn bridges with his master.

True Person Xuan Chen furrowed his brow. After a long silence, he finally said:

"I truly mean it for your own good. But since you insist on learning, I can't very well refuse to teach you. Let's meet halfway. If you can break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation within ten years, I will teach you the [Eight Trigrams Universe Sword]."

If Lin Chan could reach the late Qi Cultivation stage within a decade, True Person Xuan Chen would no longer need to worry about sword practice hindering his cultivation.

Qi Cultivation had twelve layers in total. The late stage began at Layer Nine, at which point one could attempt Foundation Establishment.

If he wanted to solidify his foundation, rising to Layer Twelve was naturally the safest path.

Lin Chan was currently at Qi Cultivation Layer Three. Each layer doubled in difficulty, and there were thick barriers between the early and mid stages, as well as the mid and late stages.

It had taken Lin Chan over three months just to reach Layer One.

To reach Layer Nine, Lin Chan would theoretically need over a hundred years.

Of course, that was calculated based on his initial cultivation speed—which was indeed absurdly slow.

But every cultivator changed at each stage; their speed wouldn't stay stuck at that glacial pace forever.

Improving his physique, taking high-grade pills, and deepening his comprehension of the cultivation method would all boost his efficiency to some degree.

And as his cultivation rose, his meridians grew sturdier, allowing him to train longer each day.

Not to mention the auxiliary effects of the [Heart Sword Same Origin Art] and the boost from the Flowing Cloud Pill Pendant.

All of these could accelerate Lin Chan's cultivation speed.

But even accounting for these variables, True Person Xuan Chen believed Lin Chan would need at least ten to twenty years to break through to the late Qi Cultivation stage.

If Lin Chan could do it within ten years, he could then use that Seventh Grade Merit to break through directly—at least securing Foundation Establishment.

"Then I'll make a pact with you, Master. Ten years it is."

Hearing True Person Xuan Chen's words, Lin Chan thought it over briefly and immediately nodded in agreement.

He knew the difficulty of cultivation, but with an extra talent every year, breaking through to the late Qi Cultivation stage within ten years might not be impossible.

The key point was that Lin Chan had no leverage to negotiate with True Person Xuan Chen.

A master decided what to teach, when to teach, how to teach, and whether to teach at all.

It was all up to True Person Xuan Chen alone.

Even if he taught nothing, Lin Chan could say nothing.

Facing True Person Xuan Chen, the only card Lin Chan could play was having delivered a message to Shu Mountain.

He had already brought it up. True Person Xuan Chen's stance didn't change, and there was nothing he could do.

Still, what True Person Xuan Chen said wasn't unreasonable—he really did need to focus more on cultivation.

Cultivation strength was the true foundation.

"Alright, go back now. But take care of yourself—don't overdo the training. Increase your cultivation intensity gradually. Too much is worse than too little."

True Person Xuan Chen offered a final word of concern.

"Yes, Master! Your disciple heeds your teachings. I'll take my leave now."

Lin Chan replied obediently.

Then, he turned and walked away.