Condensing Qi into Liquid

Chapter 12: Condensing Qi into Liquid

Today is a rainy day.

A drizzling rain has begun to fall from the sky.

As immortals, they have the power to control weather changes. Although they could easily summon clear, sunny skies, they rarely do so. This is not only because rain is a gift from the heavens that irrigates the earth and enriches the soil, but also because one must respect the will of the heavens; how could one easily act against the natural order?

Ning Ye likes the rain.

It is not just because practicing the blade in the rain—with its desolate and bleak atmosphere—can stir his Killing Heart, but also because it can mask his tears, allowing him to indulge his emotions freely.

Therefore, whenever it rains, Ning Ye's blade becomes exceptionally sharp. Every droplet falling from the sky seems like an enemy or an opponent, shattering and annihilating under the biting edge of his blade.

Blood-red light flickers, the blade extends sharply, and wherever it passes, a sense of deep autumn intensity follows.

When he finishes the set of blade techniques and sheathes his weapon, scattered applause rings out from outside the house.

"Not bad, not bad. To have brought Master's Killing Heart Blade to minor completion in just three months—Junior Brother, you are truly gifted. Master's discerning eyes were not mistaken."

The one speaking is Yu Chenguang.

Although he speaks words of praise, there is not a hint of a smile on his stiff, withered face.

Having interacted more often, Ning Ye has gradually come to understand his senior brother and senior sister.

Yu Chenguang does not practice Zhang Liekuang's Seven Kill Heavenly Blade, but rather the Withered Wood Technique, which is why his face almost never shows any expression. You will never know what his smile looks like, nor will you see fear, and thus you will never know his true inner thoughts. It is just unclear why Zhang Liekuang would take on a disciple who does not practice his own immortal arts.

Senior Sister Ling Wuyue is a true successor of the Seven Kill Heavenly Blade. With a cultivation base in the Hualun Realm, she has already mastered the Killing Heart Blade, the Body Killing Blade, and the Qi Killing Blade, and is currently working hard to master the Momentum Killing Blade.

Ling Wuyue is truly like her name—she is stern and humorless, with a rigid temperament; she never uses words when she can solve a problem with her hands.

Coupled with the fact that Ning Ye deliberately keeps his distance from others—never opening his heart, never confiding his feelings, and rarely speaking or laughing—the three disciples under Zhang Liekuang all possess "dead faces." It is rare that Zhang Liekuang himself is also a man who rarely smiles; if the four of them were to sit together, there probably wouldn't be a single laugh for three days.

Seeing Yu Chenguang at this moment, Ning Ye sheathes his blade and bows: "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"Hmm," Yu Chenguang says. "What layer have you reached in your foundational mental cultivation?"

Ning Ye replies: "Still at the first layer. I fear it will take some time to enter the second, though my dharma power can already condense into liquid."

As he speaks, Ning Ye raises his finger, and a point of crystalline luster appears at his fingertip.

Gathering Qi into liquid is the basic standard for immortal cultivation. Different sects have different manifestations when condensing Qi into liquid.

The Black and White Divine Palace emphasizes the path of Yin and Yang, so Ning Ye's condensed Qi liquid appears in black and white colors—a tiny drop of crystal liquid that displays the rotation of Yin and Yang and the principles of the Great Dao.

If it were the Qi liquid condensed from the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's mental cultivation, it would be a mass of chaotic radiance, containing thousands of possibilities within, yet difficult to fathom.

With such distinct forms, one can naturally tell the origin of a person's cultivation at a glance; it is no wonder Ning Ye had to disperse his previous cultivation.

Seeing that Ning Ye can already condense Qi into liquid, Yu Chenguang is slightly startled: "Why didn't you say so earlier? Didn't I tell you that once you entered the sect, you could choose to study one of the Divine Palace's arts?"

According to the rules of the major immortal sects, there are generally two ways for disciples to receive instruction: through the master's personal lineage or through the sect's general lineage.

Outer disciples without a personal lineage can only follow the standard procedure, choosing one technique to study at each stage: early, middle, and late Cang Xiang Realm.

Disciples with a personal lineage, in addition to the standard process, can learn extra techniques from their master's lineage, with the specific amount depending on the master.

The reason for this restriction is not stinginess, but because in the eyes of the immortal sects, regardless of seniority, the Cang Xiang Realm is merely an apprenticeship. During this period, learning too many techniques is meaningless; these early, minor arts only lead to a waste of time, as cultivation base is the only foundation.

Disciples with a master generally have some extra resources, allowing them to learn a bit more.

Human energy has its limits, and techniques are infinite. Even someone like Yue Xinchans could not possibly master every technique and supernatural power of a major sect, so the secret techniques of the Black and White Divine Palace are an effective supplement for disciples of a master's lineage.

Hearing Yu Chenguang say this, Ning Ye replies: "Returning to Senior Brother, my cultivation was insufficient before, so I was in no hurry to choose. But now, it is about time."

"Oh? Hearing you say that, have you already made a decision? Do you not intend to ask Master?"

Ning Ye, wishing to keep his distance from Zhang Liekuang, shakes his head: "I am afraid Master might give a different opinion, and then I wouldn't be able to choose what I want, so..."

"So you intend to act first and report later?" Yu Chenguang understands.

Ning Ye says nothing.

Yu Chenguang looks at him with a strange expression: "Are you not afraid that this will make Master unhappy?"

Ning Ye replies: "My heart seeks the Great Dao; my heart is my Dao. Master is magnanimous, so he surely will not mind."

Master is magnanimous?

Heh, are you sure you are talking about Master?

The Seven Kill Heavenly Blade is indeed domineering and unrestrained in battle, but that does not mean he is broad-minded.

Years ago, the master of the Ink Wash Villa made a slip of the tongue while drunk and criticized Zhang Liekuang. After Zhang Liekuang found out, he flew thousands of miles in a single night and used a single Extinction Heavenly Blade to wipe out the entire Ink Wash Villa. Another time, Zhang Liekuang's Extinction Heavenly Blade was damaged in battle, and he sent someone to the Lieque Sect to demand Xuanji Jade for repairs. The Xuanji Jade was a great treasure of the Lieque Sect; how could they be willing to give it up? Zhang Liekuang went to their door with his blade. He didn't kill the sect leader, but he slaughtered every old and young member of the Lieque Sect and left with the jade. After repairing his Extinction Heavenly Blade, he chopped the person who had damaged his blade into seventeen or eighteen pieces and ground their bones to dust.

Zhang Liekuang is indeed heroic and grand when fighting, but that has nothing to do with his temperament.

However, Yu Chenguang does not say these things. He does not have a deep friendship with this junior brother, and besides, a junior brother who is too favored by the master is not what he needs. Is the junior brother arrogant because of his talent? That is a good thing.

He nods and says: "Since that is the case, then go."

As he speaks, he tosses a token to Ning Ye and drifts away.