After Xiao Mo publicly announced that he wanted to cultivate immortality, he could stay cooped up at home like a shut-in with a perfectly good excuse—even after he recovered from his illness.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xiao Mo used cultivating immortality as a pretext to meditate, then sent his consciousness into the Book of a Hundred Lives.
Every five days, Xiao Mo used the Heaven Continuation Art to help Jiang Qingyi recuperate and clear her Spiritual Meridian.
He also spent his contribution points on all kinds of precious medicinal herbs. Following the prescriptions written in the Heaven Continuation Art, he personally boiled the medicine for Jiang Qingyi to drink.
As for Xiao Mo's lifespan—
He didn't care.
The price of using the Heaven Continuation Art was "Xiao Mo's" lifespan. What did that have to do with me, Xiao Mo?
Besides, I only had fifty years to experience this life anyway.
Given my current physical condition, I could hold out for at least seventy years, right?
That was plenty of time.
With Xiao Mo's help, Jiang Qingyi progressed quickly.
She went from Qi Refining Layer One to Qi Refining Layer 2 in just one month.
Of course, some geniuses could go from Qi Refining Layer One to Qi Cultivation Level 4—or even Qi Cultivation Level 5—in a single month.
Compared with them, Jiang Qingyi's talent was indeed nothing to write home about.
But Xiao Mo was already satisfied.
It was good enough that Jiang Qingyi could cultivate. What more could he ask for?
Before he knew it, several more days had passed in the real world.
Xiao Mo was absorbed in cultivating immortality every day, paying no heed to state affairs and acting like he'd given up. The officials remonstrated with him, but he wouldn't listen.
Anyway, other than eating, Xiao Mo spent his time entering the Book of a Hundred Lives to teach his disciple.
In the blink of an eye, ten months had passed in the Book of a Hundred Lives.
Over the course of those nearly twelve months, Jiang Qingyi had grown taller at a rapid pace.
She was only fifteen, yet she was already nearly 1.6 meters tall.
But that was only natural.
This was the age when girls grew and developed.
And after arriving at Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Jiang Qingyi no longer had to worry about food or clothing. She could eat her fill every day, and there was meat at every meal. With her nutrition gradually catching up, she was bound to grow faster.
Jiang Qingyi had started to blossom like a willow putting out new shoots.
She had the air of a neighbor's daughter growing into a young woman.
She was starting to look like a young lady.
Ten more days passed.
That morning, as Jiang Qingyi finished her sword form, the aura radiating from her rose another level.
"Not bad."
Xiao Mo praised the girl.
His disciple had already reached Qi Cultivation Level 7.
Hearing her master's voice, Jiang Qingyi turned around and ran over happily. "Master, you're up!"
"The sun's already shining on my backside. How could I still be in bed?" Xiao Mo chuckled and gently patted Jiang Qingyi on the head. "Qingyi, you're progressing faster and faster. Looks like all your hard work is paying off."
"It's all thanks to your teaching, Master."
"It's the result of your own efforts... Cough, cough, cough..." Xiao Mo began coughing violently.
"Master, are you all right?" Jiang Qingyi looked at her master with concern.
"I'm fine." Xiao Mo waved his hand. "I just ran into a snag while practicing recently and hurt myself a little. I'll be fine after resting for a while."
"Really?" Jiang Qingyi asked anxiously.
This was the first time she had ever seen her master get sick.
"Of course." Xiao Mo changed the subject. "There are less than three months until the New Blood Martial Arts Competition. Are you ready?"
"Reporting to Master: this disciple is ready. I definitely won't let you down!" Jiang Qingyi said earnestly.
"Just do your best and make sure you have no regrets."
As he spoke, Xiao Mo took a Sword Case from his Storage Bag and handed it to Jiang Qingyi.
"Master, what's this?" Jiang Qingyi asked curiously.
"It's a gift for you. Open it and have a look."
Jiang Qingyi opened the case.
A long sword lay inside.
"What a beautiful sword!"
Jiang Qingyi cried out in surprise.
The long sword was carved from frost. Its blade was translucent, and lotus patterns were etched along it.
"This sword is called Mystic Frost. It's a Fourth-Grade Magic Tool—not especially precious, but quite beautiful, and it suits you. Do you like it?"
"Mm! I love it!" Jiang Qingyi nodded emphatically. "Thank you, Master. I'll take good care of this sword!"
Xiao Mo smiled. "It's only a Fourth-Grade Magic Tool, and it's just a little pretty. Once you reach a higher level, you'll throw it away."
"No, Master!" Qingyi hugged the Sword Case tightly and shook her head with all her might. "I'll take good care of it. I'll never throw it away, not for as long as I live!"
Myriad Sword Sect.
As the foremost sword sect in Myriad Laws Under Heaven, Myriad Sword Sect was home to disciples with no shortage of cultivation talent.
Even an Outer disciple of Myriad Sword Sect would have the talent of an inner disciple at other sects.
And today was the grand event for all of Myriad Sword Sect's newly admitted disciples—the New Blood Martial Arts Competition!
The New Blood Martial Arts Competition originated with a long-vanished sect: Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
The rules of Myriad Sword Sect's competition were no different from those of the old Dragon Spring Sword Sect. Both used a draw to determine the matchups.
The top three competitors would receive generous rewards, including cultivation methods and Magic Tools, among other things.
The champion of every New Blood Martial Arts Competition would even receive a treasure bestowed by the sect master.
This time, for example, the sect master of Myriad Sword Sect had put up a First-Grade Magic Tool as the prize!
That filled every disciple with motivation.
Early that morning, all the disciples taking part in the New Blood Martial Arts Competition, along with the various elders and Peak Masters, gathered on a small plain.
On the first day of every competition, the sect master of Myriad Sword Sect would appear in person to announce its start.
So every young disciple waited eagerly for the sect master to appear.
The sect master of Myriad Sword Sect was nothing short of legendary.
To sword cultivators across the world, the sect master of Myriad Sword Sect was like a god.
And the sect master of Myriad Sword Sect was usually as elusive as a dragon. Even the higher-ups in the sect rarely saw her.
For many people, then, this was one of the few chances in their entire lives to see the sect master.
The moment the Chen hour arrived,
a streak of sword light swept across the sky and landed at the very front of the plain.
A woman stood atop the raised platform, her long skirt fluttering in the breeze.
At her waist hung a translucent white sword, as though it had been forged from mystic ice.
"Is that the Immortal Sword Bai Xia at the sect master's waist?" a female disciple on the plain asked her friend.
"No. The sect master rarely uses Bai Xia. This sword is called Mystic Frost. It's only a Fourth-Grade Magic Tool," her friend explained.
"A Fourth-Grade Magic Tool?" The female disciple froze. "Is there something special about this sword? How could a Fourth-Grade Magic Tool be worthy of the sect master's status?"
"I'm not sure."
Her friend shook her head too.
"Maybe this Fourth-Grade Magic Tool holds some special meaning for the sect master."
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