One After Another

"... Supporters of the Sword Qi faction believe that the Sword Ancestor Xuantian's annihilation of the Demonic Sect was invincible, so there must be no mistake. It must be that his disciples are dull and their cultivation is still insufficient. Therefore, they should first observe the sword and transform it into a sword, and then transform it into qi and refine it, and honestly cultivate sword qi."

However, given the risks I mentioned earlier, they were indeed unable to master the Sword Transformation Guide. Therefore, they sought alternative paths: either reducing their Sword Visualization, avoiding excessive refinement of sword energy to prevent self-harm, or first practicing Martial God to cultivate an indestructible body like that of King Kong, before returning to cultivate this method. Through repeated refinement and polishing, they could refine their sword energy and sword techniques to reach the standard required to cultivate the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture>.

Such a diligent and rigorous training of sword qi practitioners can indeed unleash sword techniques from the Northern Star School, such as the Qiankun Flying Dragon Sword Technique. However, it inevitably requires consuming more Heavenly Treasure and time to refine and purify the sword qi. Initial cultivation progress is extremely slow, and for a long time, one may be stuck at the threshold of the Golden Core stage without making any further progress. Of course, theoretically, once one's skill is greatly enhanced, one can cultivate the Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture, but such talent with great perseverance is rare.

Because the progress of the Sword Qi Sect was so slow, lagging far behind the main lineage, the Qi Sword Sect suspected that perhaps the Sword Transformation Guide written by the Sword Ancestor Xuantian had been too abridged, missing some crucial orally transmitted techniques. Therefore, they advocated refining Qi first, then forging the sword, instead of directly cultivating sword Qi. Instead, they continued to cultivate by controlling Qi, and only condensed the sword form after the Qi technique was used. They skipped the step of observing and forging the sword in the Inner Landscape Divine Court, and only refined the Dao Breath Qi according to the model. This avoided the risk of being injured by sword Qi when the Qi was mixed up during cultivation, and could refine the Dao Qi to the standard of cultivating the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture>, and then attach the refined Nine Luminaries Qi to the sword blade.

This sword, forged with such skill, possesses a solidified Sword Light, making it capable of easily slaying Nascent Soul stage opponents and even injuring Divine Transformation Lords at the Deity Transformation stage. Its power has been greatly enhanced, and it has become the primary method of the orthodox True Persons of the Three Great Sects.

However, while this allows for cultivation, the power of the Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture is somewhat lacking, not as formidable as that wielded by the Sword Ancestor Xuantian and his true disciples. Moreover, with further refinement, one can only refine one of the nine energies, and even then, the limit is only to my level of sword energy—a sword energy enveloping the blade for three feet, its light illuminating all directions. Even if the refined version is longer or shorter, or its Sword Light, the difference is merely in power, not in its essence.

This sword technique is sufficient for killing enemies, but the Beichen Sword Sect refines swords for enlightenment. Yet, they can't even achieve the harmonious interplay of the five energies of Tai Chi, let alone reach the state of unifying the Nine Luminaries and comprehending sword intent. What then is the point of specifically cultivating the <Sword Transformation Guide> and the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture>?

Therefore, the Qi Sword faction suspects that there are still secret techniques that were lost when the Inner Sect died out.

Perhaps it is indeed so. After the destruction of the Sword Sect, the various sects fought over the secret techniques of the Beichen Sword Sect and discovered that the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture> was indeed missing the Taiyin and Taiyang sections. The Luohou and Ketu had also been heavily modified by the Sword Ancestor, making them almost impossible to refine. And according to the sword spirit of Yuntai Peak, there was indeed a superior sword technique and mental cultivation method called <Nine Luminaries Divine Sword>. It's just that it was probably lost forever with the disappearance of the Sword Ancestor.

In short, the Qi Sword is now specifically used to compensate for the shortcomings of magical weapons and is a technique for fighting and swordplay. Remember, experts whose weapons have eerie lights should never rely on their physical bodies to touch them.

As for my Penglai's <Nine Truth Profound Darkness Qi Sword>, although it cannot be used for enlightenment like the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture>, its power as a fighting technique is renowned throughout the world. However, the Cultivation Method Sword of our sect has naturally been improved based on our sect's techniques and methods, and only Inner Sect disciples can exchange for it.

Therefore, Brother Li, if you also wish to cultivate, you must achieve great merit to exchange for it, and you must also relearn the Nine Truth Sect's Cultivation Method to unleash their power. With your current Martial God realm, I think the benefits of cultivation are very low, and it's not worth it."

Li Fan was speechless for a moment, then frowned and asked, "But the Xuan Tian Sword Ancestor, shouldn't he have revised the <<Ordinary True Essence Sword Transformation Guide>> before disappearing? Didn't he personally instruct his disciples on how to cultivate this Sword Transformation Guide, or which technique to practice first?"

Zhou Chengxue smiled bitterly, "You don't know about the last Sword Ancestor. It is said that he was originally a tough and strong man who kept everything to himself. He was very introverted. He was originally selected after the outer mountain sect was wiped out. He was not the successor that the main mountain sect favored and cultivated. He only took the position after all his fellow disciples died. After his own disciples also died, he became even more taciturn."

According to the disciples of Beichen Outer Mountain, he only said three sentences a year, "Trash, useless, stupid." When asked about the cultivation method of the Sword Transformation Guide, he only said to kill a hundred demons and you would know it. If you don't know it, kill another hundred until you do.

"Alas, all sword immortals are so extreme in temperament. Even those from the outer sect are arrogant. They are all successors of the Beichen Sword Sect and refuse to be looked down upon by him. They also stubbornly refuse to ask him for guidance, and as a result, they don't even know when the Sword Ancestor disappeared..."

What? Were we really talking about the same Xuantian? Sigh, birds of a feather flock together, we're all crazy...

Every time Li Fan heard about the affairs of the Beichen Sword Sect, it gave him a headache. The sect leader's secret records also contained a rough account of the Beichen Sword Sect's split after Xuan Tian's disappearance, but since all the people involved were dead, the disciples of Yuntai Peak had to consult various bystander memoirs. Of course, none of them were like Zhou Chengxue, Inner Sect disciple of the Xuanmen sect who could personally study the <Nine Luminaries Sword Scripture> and <Sword Transformation Method> and make such detailed deductions based on the original text of the Cultivation Method, even clearly deducing the differences between Qi Sword and Sword Qi cultivation.

But how should I put it? As for the Sword Transformation Guide, or as Li Fan calls it, the Universal Transformation Sword Qi, Li Fan himself has certainly practiced it. After all, he has to learn it himself before he can teach others. But to be honest, it doesn't seem that difficult. In fact, the basic sword qi circulation and meridian flow of Ink Bamboo Mountain are even more complex and dangerous.

It's not Versailles, but his modified version of the * Puhua Sword Method * even streamlined and filtered out some unnecessary body-refining techniques from the guide, replacing them with swordplay for killing enemies. This shows that while the method was supposedly abridged for Xuan Tian, it was likely simplified to suit the aptitude of ordinary disciples, with the aim of cultivation rather than combat. Look at Asha, she can practice it too. You haven't seen how difficult the properly edited Profound Heaven Sword Method for killing is.

As for the supposed divergence between sword qi and sword energy, in Li Fan's opinion, their Dao hearts were probably misaligned from the very beginning; they'd all gone astray. The Dao heart of the Beichen Sword Sect is ruthless, merciless, and fearless. Their Sword Transformation Guide was initially obtained by offering a hundred lives in exchange. Isn't it obvious that it's a superior Dao technique to be fought for with one's life? If one doesn't even have the courage to take a risk and cultivate sword energy, if one is afraid of hardship and suffering, their Dao heart will crumble before they even begin. Why choose the bloodthirsty path of the Sword Immortal?

While this was a tug-of-war, the two Penglai cultivators on the dueling platform finally finished their fight. It seemed that these few seventh-grade divine pills were indeed worth risking their lives for. In the end, both of them were exhausted and grappled together, their faces bruised and swollen, covered in blood. The loser, of course, lay on the ground, his life hanging in the balance, while the Winner was also bleeding from his head, his fingers bitten off. He coughed up blood and bowed to the sidelines.

The elder standing beside the dueling arena remained expressionless throughout. Once the outcome was decided, he beckoned, summoning the gourd from the sky and handing it to the Winner. Then, he rolled up his sleeves, checked the loser's breath, and took out some medicine to treat him. He seemed quite accustomed to such scenes.

The Winner was quite decisive; he took the pill, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged on the ground to regulate his breathing.

Zhou Chengxue nodded. "In the past, such karmic debts would have required killing, but now the Xuanmen has learned from the Beichen Sword Sect's lesson and will let it go. This time, the Winner takes all, and the next batch of sects will also receive subsidies. Once a good pill is refined, it will be the turn of another sect."

But, does simply arranging the order really make all the difference...?

Li Fan clearly noticed the loser. Although he bowed and staggered away after being rescued, his eyes were clearly filled with resentment.

Of course! For ordinary cultivators who don't receive alchemy from grandmasters, what they lose on the surface is a lot of Spirit Coins each. Even if the sect compensates them, when will it be their turn again? They might feel that their path to cultivation is over...

Nascent Soul Realm would certainly notice the loser's lack of acceptance, but the referee elder and Zhou Chengxue beside him remained unmoved, as steady as Mount Tai. Li Fan scratched his head in confusion, "Brother Zhou, do you really think this is enough? Is it the same among the Nine Palaces of Penglai? No matter how the fight goes, they just decide who comes first, and that's it?"

Zhou Chengxue gave Li Fan a meaningful look, "Let's go, we've been delayed too long, let's go to the Shenzhen Palace to change the token first."

The Supreme God True Palace, though called a Daoist temple, is so grand that it could be described as Immortal Palace or the abode of immortals. It occupies an entire mountaintop, and not far away, one can see the residence of the head of the Supreme Zhenzhen Palace, the highest peak of Penglai Mountain.

Upon entering the gate of the Daoist palace and seeing the statue of the Profound Maiden, Li Fan didn't need Zhou Chengxue to say anything more. He pushed aside the Golden Mountain and overturned the Jade Pillar, bowing his head and kowtowing nine times with a deafening roar that even attracted the attention of the female immortals outside the palace.

Zhou Chengxue was also caught off guard, exclaiming that he had been careless. He quickly pulled Li up, saying, "Brother Li, Brother Li! That's too much. It's good that you sincerely admire the Dao, but there's no need for so much. It's not like Inner Sect disciple is worshipping the patriarch. A simple bow to show respect is enough. Come, let me tell you about the origin of our lineage."

There's really no need to elaborate. The founder of the Shenzhen Palace was also a Daoist Master of Enlightenment from Penglai. He was probably a direct disciple of the sect leader of that generation, whose cultivation was not yet sufficient, and temporarily took over the position of sect leader of Penglai in place of the Zhizhen lineage. After that, many outstanding disciples emerged. Therefore, according to the Nine Truth Sect's emphasis on 'first' and 'last' ranking, he was placed third among Zhizhen, Lingzhen, and Shenzhen. The first two palaces both have Daoist Masters presiding over them, which shows the prosperous foundation of the Shenzhen Palace lineage. It's just a pity that there are no Daoist Masters of the Enlightenment Stage in this generation of the Shenzhen Palace, only six Divine Masters.

Hmm... there are only six...

"Our sect's three patriarchs, Ju Si, Ju Rui, and Shi Ming, are currently in seclusion to comprehend the Dao. Our two divine lords, Shi Xin and Shi Wu, are away on a campaign against the demonic sect. The acting palace master currently in charge is Yi Si Shenjun. I wonder if he is also in seclusion to cultivate. In any case, I'm sending this letter to inquire after him. If I could meet him, it would be a great opportunity."

Zhou Chengxue led Li Fan to a side hall, found a spirit servant on duty, and exchanged the silver plaque for "Li Tang, Outer Gate Guest of the Supreme Divine Palace".

"Brother Li, do you remember? My Nine Truth Sect is descended from the Three Mountains, and our lineage originates from the Si Dao Cave, the Ming Xiang Ke Li Zhong, and the Hong Liang Jushi Xian. One descendant will forever inherit the lineage. Virtue is passed down through generations, and pure cultivation brings lasting blessings. Our lineage has been established and will continue to flourish, with the benevolent wind bringing auspiciousness."

"The Manifestation Sect Leader is the fifteenth generation of our sect, while I am the nineteenth generation disciple of the Nine Truth Sect. If you make great contributions in this expedition and are able to enter the Inner Sect, you can take a character in order..."

"Oh, so once I'm accepted into the sect, I'll change my name to Li Chengtang?"

The boy next to him couldn't help but chuckle.

Zhou Chengxue said somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, no... Although your cultivation level has reached that point, you weren't admitted through the entrance exam. According to the rules, you'll be assigned after the disciples who entered through the college entrance exam. Now the lineage has reached the 'Great' level, and the Demonic Sect probably won't be easily destroyed. By the time you make a great contribution and return from Kunlun, you'll probably be at the twenty-third or twenty-fourth generation..."

Li Fan was speechless. This Xuanmen sect is really going too far! They don't even want a Martial God to join them, and they want him to line up with a junior student? Are they just idiots with no rights?

Unfortunately, the academic discrimination in the Xuanmen sect is real. That Yi Si Shenjun was obviously not cultivating, but he also disdained to even meet this guest elder, let alone offer him any opportunities. He simply scanned Li Fan with his Divine Sense, replied with "I understand," and that was it.

Although Li Fan was a little annoyed, he was mostly relieved. Luckily, he knew the temperament of Xuan Tian, an old Xuanmen sect, who disliked slackers the most. Sure enough, if he pretended to be a fool, no one would pay attention to him. See, at least the Divine Lord wouldn't see through his background to his face.

Zhou Chengxue was a little embarrassed. After all, he had personally fought the red-haired guy and knew he was truly skilled. To underestimate him would make the Shenzhen Palace seem petty. So, he became quite enthusiastic, personally guiding Li Fan through all the procedures—getting documents, finding the way, collecting subsidies, and accepting quests—acting exactly like a new faction guide NPC. He even added an auto-pathfinding function, acting as a forced introductory guide, and the cutscenes couldn't be skipped. Li Fan was getting really annoyed and wanted to punch him...

Well, Zhou Chengxue was actually quite helpful. After a whole day of work, I finally got everything settled for him.

For example, at the foot of the Shenzhen Palace Mountain, a side hall was built for Li Fan as his residence and cultivation place. He was also given a scroll of Martial God cultivation method, which was said to be the cultivation Cultivation Method of an ancient immortal Immortal Palace's Dou Department god. Unfortunately, the ancient Dou Department god fought too fiercely and was wiped out in a bloody battle with the demon god. This Cultivation Method was not only incomplete but also had not been updated for a long time and was already outdated. However, Li Fan said, "Great! It matches my style! I'll choose it!"

... Of course, it was actually Si Nan who chose it.

Zhou Chengxue couldn't persuade him and had no choice but to let Li Fan go. Before leaving, he even got him a set of the Immortal Palace -style armor, which was considered top-grade 'trash' equipment for the Nascent Soul Realm. It seemed that he really regarded him as a guardian deity.

In this way, Zhou Chengxue temporarily settled a newcomer, indicating that Li Fan would be given a few months to cultivate in Penglai and familiarize himself with the environment. Once he had finished his own affairs, he would then lead him on a cooperative mission at sea.

Of course, Li Fan wouldn't wait several months to team up with Zhou Chengxue for some kind of buddy mission. He planned to finish the rescue mission as soon as possible and then leave.

It wasn't that Li Fan suspected Zhou Chengxue of having ulterior motives or malicious intent in his seemingly friendly demeanor. It was simply because after following Zhou Chengxue's guide around the area, Li Fan realized that in a proper Xuanmen (Daoist sect) like Penglai, it was quite difficult for even ordinary Inner Sect disciples, let alone rogue cultivators, to make a name for themselves.

There is a strong internal competitive atmosphere here, literally meaning "eager to be first".

The biggest and most obvious difference between Penglai and Ink Bamboo Mountain is the presence of plaques displaying the rankings of various sects. Of course, there aren't just one, but many. You can see rankings of this sect or that sect everywhere.

For example, there are rankings of exam results for each year, rankings of scores in each of the Five Arts, calculations of achievements in alchemy, weapon crafting, demon slaying, gathering, and animal husbandry, lists of sect contributions, individual rankings, sect rankings, mountain rankings, and rankings at the entrances of all Daoist palaces and workshops. Everywhere, contributions and points are being calculated.

According to Zhou Chengxue, the Nine Great Xuan Sects are all like this, at most it's a matter of degree.

So far, this isn't really a problem. After all, if you don't want to compete with the Beichen Sword Sect in swordsmanship, and you don't want to rely on family connections like the Immortal Palace, then how should the sect's resources be allocated? Everyone should present the facts, reason, and compete in intelligence. With data to support it, whether it's first-come, first-served or meritocracy, only reason and evidence can convince the masses.

That's right. This system was actually first developed by the Xuanmen sect and passed on to the Shenjiao sect. However, the Shenjiao sect implemented it with a different emphasis. The Shenjiao sect truly distributed rewards based on merit. Even if you are a rogue cultivator, if you make great contributions, such as contributing a lot of spiritual herbs when the sect is in urgent need, or maintaining the sect's annual Spirit Stones production, you can be credited with great merit. Once you have enough merit, you can exchange it for a Heavenly Book.

But Xuanmen is quite different. Looking at Xuanmen's rankings, you'll doubt whether you're looking at who has actually made a contribution, or you're looking at a bunch of hardcore players frantically racking up points.

Taking the alchemy ranking as an example, there are divisions based on year, month, and day; divisions based on pill grade; divisions based on alchemist output; divisions based on the Nine True Sects; and divisions based on the direct bloodline of the Three Mountains. But basically, each palace has one disciple on the list, occupying all of the top nine positions. The top three are also the designated disciples from the top-ranked palaces of Supreme True, Spiritual True, and Divine True. Moreover, the gap between the top three and the bottom three is extremely large. The fourth-ranked disciple might have opened a dozen or so seventh-grade divine pills in one batch, while the third-ranked disciple might have opened hundreds of ninth-grade divine pills.

This is understandable, since only the top three receive rewards, and they will likely receive even more and better pills and superior Cultivation Method, further widening the gap between them and the rest.

This is a brutal and undisguised elite education. In each cohort of disciples, only the top-tier Dao Seed enjoy the most prioritized resources and treatment within the entire sect, while the others are merely struggling to survive, having already been overtaken by more than ten laps.

It's not that there's no competition or internal strife, but the infighting between other individuals has become less significant. The real competition is between just a few elites. Moreover, the fact that every few sessions, a few disciples from lower-ranked Dao Palaces suddenly break into the top three shows what they're really fighting for.

The competition is not only about the ranking of the various palaces, but also about guarding the three mountains of Penglai, Fanghu, and Yingzhou, and even more so about the position of leader of the Supreme Nine Truth Sect.

Therefore, Zhou Chengxue probably doesn't harbor too much hostility towards Li Fan. He ranked ninth in his class, which is the kind of student whose grades are unbeatable, so he's basically resigned to his fate...

Happy New Year everyone!