Looking at the Void Spirit Pearl in his hand, Zhong Shan had already made up his mind.
The weapon of his original body was a saber. He had thought about its shape long ago. Slowly, Zhong Shan gripped the Void Spirit Pearl and, following the method Ling Er had taught him, used a saber to cut open his palm. Blood quickly filled the Void Spirit Pearl.
Once the blood had filled it, the Void Spirit Pearl seemed to establish a faint spiritual connection with Zhong Shan. With a thought from Zhong Shan, its shape slowly changed and gradually lengthened. In the end, it became shaped like a great saber.
Zhong Shan was about one meter eighty tall, and the great saber was one meter sixty long. Its appearance was extremely overbearing. The blade bore a huge groove, while along the back were six enormous spikes following the blade's momentum. It looked incomparably savage—just like Zhong Shan himself, ferocious to the extreme.
However, this was only a transparent mold embryo.
Next came the infusion of metal.
Looking at his great saber, Zhong Shan did not hesitate. He infused it into the mold. At the slightest touch, the great saber was enveloped by the mold, then seemed to be dissolved by the energy inside it and melded against the mold.
There was not enough metal, so Zhong Shan found a sword in the Listening Water Pavilion and threw it inside. He then found an axe and threw that in as well. Only then was the great saber completely filled.
Now, it was merely the lowest-grade first-rank magical treasure. From then on, he would use true qi and True Essence to temper it and nurture it with his mind, allowing it to develop a spirit and continually advance.
Looking at his first magical treasure, a trace of sorrow flashed through Zhong Shan's eyes.
"Sky Splitting Crown Prince, this saber will become your nightmare in the future. So, starting today, I'll call you 'Nightmare.'" Zhong Shan stroked the great saber as he spoke.
"Zhong Shan, are you back?" Tian Ling'er called from outside the room.
Zhong Shan opened the door and happened to see Nan Batian and Tian Ling'er arriving at the Listening Water Pavilion together.
"Oh? You've already finished refining it? This great saber is fierce." Nan Batian was immediately astonished when he saw the great saber in Zhong Shan's hand.
"Exactly. This saber looks fierce at a glance. You're a fierce person, and the shape of this saber is fierce too." Tian Ling'er spoke at once.
"Have a seat. I'll prepare something to drink." Zhong Shan spoke.
The three of them then sat at the stone table beside the small pond outside the courtyard.
"Zhong Shan, you were amazing today. An Innate Third Stage defeating an Innate Fourth Stage. That person must be furious after going back." Tian Ling'er spoke.
"Exactly. I heard that among the four people at the Innate Fourth Stage, he was still ranked second in strength. Who would have thought he would stumble into your hands this time? This is the first time something like this has happened in all these years." Nan Batian spoke.
"Who says so? Senior Brother can also challenge those at a higher level. Didn't they say last time that he killed someone whose cultivation was higher than his?" Tian Ling'er said.
"You didn't see it yourself." Nan Batian put on an unconvinced expression.
"He definitely did it. Senior Brother would never lie." Tian Ling'er immediately grew anxious.
Watching the two of them bicker, Zhong Shan did not interrupt or take it to heart. Fighting others to the death? Defeating someone whose cultivation surpassed his own? It was not difficult, because between life and death, there were still many schemes and methods to employ. Besides, being with the two of them put Zhong Shan in an excellent mood. Although their cultivation was higher than his, they were younger, and their thoughts were comparatively innocent. In Zhong Shan's eyes, they were like a younger brother and sister.
"The Sect Master said that we'd meet again in fifteen days. What did he mean?" Zhong Shan suddenly remembered what Tian Lingzi had said in the square that day.
"Oh, you don't know? This time, we'll be able to leave. We can go out and gain experience." Tian Ling'er immediately grew excited.
"Gain experience?" Zhong Shan frowned.
"Exactly, go out and gain experience. Last time, Father took me out, but he wouldn't let me run around, and we came back not long afterward. This time, I finally have a chance to go out alone. I won't have to watch my father's expression anymore. Hmph." Tian Ling'er wrinkled her little nose and made a cute face.
"Who will be going? Do I have to go too?" Zhong Shan frowned.
Zhong Shan did not want to go. He knew that the spiritual energy outside was not as abundant as in the Kaiyang Sect. Besides, he had found a small pocket heaven. Cultivating inside it was many times faster than cultivating outside.
"Not necessarily. It will all be voluntary when the time comes, but most people will go. I've been cooped up here for so many years, just like this, and I've long wanted to go out and take a look. Some people also want to return to the mortal world and see their families." Tian Ling'er explained.
"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded.
In any case, Zhong Shan had made up his mind. Since it was voluntary, he would not go.
"Ling Er, Batian, you're both here?" At that moment, an ethereal voice suddenly came from empty space.
It was the Sect Master, Tian Xingzi's voice.
"Father? Why are you here?" Tian Ling'er immediately called out and began looking around.
Then everyone saw Sect Master Tian Xingzi descend from the sky and land before Zhong Shan's stone table.
Zhong Shan quickly rose and respectfully bowed to Tian Xingzi. "Greetings, Sect Master."
"Uncle Tian." Nan Batian addressed him as well.
"Mm." Tian Xingzi nodded, then sat down beside the stone table without ceremony.
Looking at Zhong Shan, Tian Xingzi said, "Zhong Shan, sit down. I never expected your physique to achieve such results in just one year. You must have cultivated extremely hard."
"Of course. Father, you don't know—see that kiln over there? Zhong Shan built it for cultivation. He also kept fighting demonic beasts in the mountains. That's how he managed to cultivate so quickly." Tian Ling'er immediately cut in.
Tian Xingzi glanced at the kiln over there, then at Tian Ling'er and Nan Batian, and smiled faintly.
"You two go over there first. I have something to discuss with Zhong Shan." Tian Xingzi spoke.
"What is it that I can't hear?" Tian Ling'er immediately pouted and protested.
"It's extremely important." Tian Xingzi's expression turned solemn.
"All right." Tian Ling'er nodded and stopped arguing. She then walked to the other side with Nan Batian.
With a light wave of his hand, Tian Xingzi enveloped a five-meter radius in a cloud of white mist, cutting it off from Tian Ling'er and the others.
Looking at Tian Xingzi before him, Zhong Shan frowned, unsure why he had come to find him.
"Zhong Shan." Tian Xingzi looked at Zhong Shan solemnly.
"This disciple is here." Zhong Shan immediately nodded.
"Hehe, there's no need to be so restrained. To achieve your current results in one year with that Root Bone has surprised me. At the same time, I can tell that your will is extremely firm and that you aren't afraid of hardship. At the age of eighty, with a mortal body, you obtained a Restriction Breaking Pill. Regardless of how you obtained it, I believe your heart is certainly not as innocent as Ling Er and the others'. You possess wisdom and understand the need to work hard." Tian Xingzi spoke.
Zhong Shan said nothing. He continuously guessed at the meaning behind Tian Xingzi's words, waiting for him to continue.
"So, there's something I would like to ask you to help with." Tian Xingzi finished speaking and looked at Zhong Shan.
Seeing Zhong Shan's attitude, a trace of satisfaction appeared in Tian Xingzi's smile.
"They should have told you just now. In a few days, Ling Er and Batian will definitely be leaving. Batian needn't concern me. He's a boy, and we have given him the last life-saving item we possess for him. He won't suffer a loss, and he can temper his character in the mortal world. As for Ling Er, I can't feel at ease about her. So, I hope you can take care of her in my place and bring her back safely after a year." Tian Xingzi spoke solemnly.
"Leave?" Zhong Shan frowned.
"Batian needs to train on his own. Ling Er is too innocent by nature, and she's friends with you. With her following you, I can rest easy. As long as you bring her back safely after a year, I will personally guide your cultivation." Tian Xingzi spoke earnestly.
Hearing this, Zhong Shan's eyes lit up. Personal guidance? That would be far better than cultivating blindly on his own.
"With my guidance, your cultivation will certainly advance much more quickly. Once you reach the Golden Core Stage, I will accept you as my disciple. How does that sound?" Tian Xingzi smiled faintly.
This was an investment with no cost. If Zhong Shan could cultivate to the Golden Core Stage with his Root Bone, then accepting him as a disciple would be no problem. If he failed to reach the Golden Core Stage, Tian Xingzi would have no need to fulfill any promise. As for personally guiding him, occasional pointers would be enough.
But the temptation this held for Zhong Shan was simply too great.
With a master, one could certainly achieve twice the result with half the effort and avoid countless unnecessary detours.
One year—just one year. Everything was worth it.
"All right." Zhong Shan agreed.
"Then I can rest easy. I believe in you." Tian Xingzi rose and patted Zhong Shan on the shoulder with a smile.
With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the white mist.
"All right, you three continue chatting. I won't disturb you." Tian Xingzi smiled at the three of them, then stomped his foot. A white cloud carried him away.
"Zhong Shan, what did my father say just now?" Tian Ling'er immediately asked.
"He wants me to go out with you." Zhong Shan shook his head and answered simply.
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