We need output 71 paras exact. Count source paragraphs manually. Need preserve. Translate. title Chapter 13: Entering the Inner Court. Body paragraphs count likely 71, input displayed. Ensure every para.Chapter 13: Entering the Inner Court

Although they didn't show it much, Yu Xiu could tell that after he refused, Liu Qingchuan, Shan Yu, and the others had visibly relaxed.

He knew what they were thinking.

It was simply because Fang Jiming held a grudge against him, and Liu Qingchuan and the others were afraid of being dragged into it.

After all, Fang Jiming was already on the verge of entering the Inner Court. He was at the peak of the Life Spring stage and only one step away from the Four Great Passes.

At this point, no one could say for sure whether Fang Jiming was at the fourth Ascending Dragon Pass or had already entered the Four Great Passes.

If he was only at the fourth Ascending Dragon Pass, it was still manageable. The five of them had reached the third pass, the Qi Sea, in three years, so at least they carried some weight.

But if Fang Jiming had already entered the Four Great Passes, and decided to kill Yu Xiu while they happened to be out training with him, then all five of them would die!

Who would want to live or die alongside Yu Xiu for no reason?

Zhao Hong didn't seem surprised. Smiling, she said, "Brother Yu, it's no fault of yours to be cautious."

She thought Yu Xiu was guarding against Fang Jiming.

She was also secretly relieved by Yu Xiu's choice.

Just then, the gray-haired transmission elder arrived unhurriedly.

His gentle gaze swept over the disciples gathered there, and he sighed. "You have gone three years without entering Qi Circulation. It's time for you to head out and gain some experience."

In an instant, the disciples who had yet to enter the Qi Circulation Realm grew despondent, but none dared object.

This was a sect rule. No one could change it.

The transmission elder then looked at the disciples who had entered the Qi Circulation Realm. "You must cultivate diligently."

He instructed a disciple beside him, "Those who have entered Qi Circulation are to receive five Qi-Boosting Pills."

Finally, he looked at Shan Yu, Liu Qingchuan, Zhao Hong, and the others, nodding with satisfaction. "You few have done well."

He again instructed the disciple beside him, "Those who have entered the third pass, the Qi Sea, are to receive ten drops of Hundred Herb Jade Liquid."

A single drop of Hundred Herb Jade Liquid was enough for a newcomer to the Qi Sea Realm to cultivate for eight days, and cost thirty taels of silver.

Ten drops amounted to three hundred taels. It was actually a very generous reward.

The transmission elder shifted his gaze to Yu Xiu. "Come here."

"When you broke through, a Shadow Demon appeared, trying to seize your body and disturb your mind. How did you overcome it?" the transmission elder asked.

Yu Xiu replied, "I overcame it on my own."

"That was rather reckless. Reaching the Qi Sea in three years shows you have good aptitude, but remember not to take such risks again," the transmission elder cautioned.

That won't do. This is a spirit treasure. I can trade it for contribution points.

He would still break through on his own in the future.

Yu Xiu agreed aloud, but in truth, the warning went in one ear and out the other.

"Those who haven't entered Qi Circulation, prepare yourselves. Before long, you'll go down the mountain with the stewards to gain experience!" the transmission elder said. "There's no need to resist or be afraid. Over the years, many of our disciples have soared to great heights during their training below the mountain, progressing by leaps and bounds and achieving astonishing things."

He then turned to the disciples who had entered the Qi Circulation Realm. "Though you've entered Qi Circulation, you must still cultivate diligently and strive to enter the Inner Court as soon as possible."

"You five, come with me to the Inner Court!" The transmission elder set off toward the mountainside.

Not far from Mianzhu Mountain stood another mountain, Emerald Forest Mountain, where the Inner Court was located. A suspension bridge halfway up connected the two mountains.

As he walked, the transmission elder gave the five of them some advice. "The Outer Court cultivates the first two of the Four Ascending Dragon Passes. They're only the foundation. But the Inner Court cultivates the last two, the Qi Sea and Life Spring. The difficulty will rise sharply, and you'll need many more resources.

"None of you come from wealthy families, nor do you have powerful backing. Once you enter the Inner Court, you'll have to take on sect missions to earn resources. Remember, you must be cautious—then more cautious still.

"The Shadow Demons and wicked beings below the mountain are vicious and impossible to guard against. Even a seemingly insignificant mission may bring you face-to-face with a powerful evil creature or fiend at the level of the Four Great Passes.

"Resources are important, but you must also understand that to do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools."

The five obediently agreed and thanked the transmission elder for his guidance.

When they reached the Inner Court's Internal Affairs Hall, they exchanged their identity plaques for Inner Court ones and were assigned places to stay.

The transmission elder, meanwhile, received a generous number of contribution points at the Internal Affairs Hall.

Liu Qingchuan, Shan Yu, Zhao Hong, Xu Rou, and Yu Xiu could all be considered promising disciples nurtured by the transmission elder, so he naturally received the appropriate contribution points.

After that, the transmission elder returned to the Outer Court, leaving them with one last reminder. "Cultivate diligently from now on. If anything comes up, you can seek out the Inner Court's transmission elder. He comes from the same lineage as I do, so we share some ties."

The five bowed and thanked him, watching as the transmission elder departed.

Perhaps Yu Xiu and the others had reached the Qi Sea in just three years, making them promising disciples. Or perhaps this was simply how things normally went when Outer Court disciples entered the Inner Court.

A young male disciple named Hao Yuan from the Internal Affairs Hall showed them around. First he took them to their respective lodgings, then to a cliff.

The cliff stood several dozen zhang high, yet it looked strange. Its face was perfectly flat and smooth as a mirror. Though who knew how many years had passed, not a single weed or sapling had grown on it.

Stranger still, many Inner Court disciples had gathered before the cliff. Some quietly sensed its presence, some touched it with their swords, and others simply stood nearby.

Hao Yuan smiled. "This is one of the Inner Court's remarkable sights, known as Sword Severed Cliff.

"Do you know why so many fellow disciples have gathered here?"

Zhao Hong played along and asked, "Why?"

Hao Yuan replied, "Three hundred years ago, the True Disciple Qi Wendao of the Main Sect cleaved a mountain apart with a single strike, creating this cliff.

"Though three hundred years have passed, the sword intent on it has never dissipated, so not a blade of grass grows here.

"I've heard that a highly gifted senior once sensed Martial Uncle Qi Wendao's sword intent before this cliff and, as a result, developed a Sword Heart.

"So all the younger disciples hope to comprehend the sword intent here."

Shan Yu and Liu Qingchuan's eyes lit up at his words.

"To split a mountain with one strike, and leave sword intent that hasn't faded in three hundred years?!" Zhao Hong and Xu Rou were filled with longing.

Only Yu Xiu quietly closed his eyes, then quickly opened them again.

Three hundred years have passed. The sword intent here has long since faded. It's no longer possible to develop a Sword Heart from it.

Besides, he had already developed a Sword Heart of his own, and possessed sword intent as well.

Qi Wendao's sword intent from three hundred years ago no longer affected him, so he was the most indifferent of all.

Hao Yuan smiled and said, "There are no restrictions here. You junior brothers can come to comprehend the sword at any time."

He then took Yu Xiu and the others to places such as the Inner Court dining hall. At the end, he said, "You've only just entered the Inner Court. Your top priority is to study the cultivation methods and sword techniques for the Qi Sea Realm. Come, I'll take you to the Library Pavilion."

Zhao Hong's heart stirred. "Senior Brother Hao, is there a marked difference between Qi Sea Realm cultivation methods and those for the Flawless and Qi Circulation Realms?"

"A marked difference?" Hao Yuan smiled. "Our Sword-in-Hand lineage still incorporates cultivation methods into sword techniques, so we still practice the sword. But the difficulty is much greater.

"A Qi Sea Realm sword manual contains twenty sets of sword techniques, corresponding to the nine levels of the Qi Sea Realm. That's why mastering one takes so much time.

"Even Zhu Wenjiu, Feng Zhiyuan, and Zhang Yundu—three exceptionally gifted senior brothers who mastered the Flawless and Qi Circulation stages in a single year—spent a full year just barely completing their Qi Sea Realm cultivation.

"Normally, it wouldn't be unusual to remain at the Qi Sea stage for ten years, twenty years, or even a lifetime."

A Qi Sea Realm cultivation manual contains twenty sets of sword techniques. Yu Xiu's eyes lit up.

How much would his Comprehension and lifespan increase if he mastered every one of them?

This was good news!

As for remaining at the Qi Sea stage for ten or even twenty years, Yu Xiu hadn't heard a single word of it.

Go tell that to my Comprehension of over two hundred!