Freely Browse Cultivation Methods and Sword Arts

Chapter 18: Freely Browse Cultivation Methods and Sword Arts at the Library Pavilion.

The guardian elder, Liao Jianshu, suddenly lowered the book in his hand and sat up straight. His usually warm, mild gaze sharpened, fixing on Yu Xiu.

'Life Spring!'

'How did he enter the Life Spring realm?!'

Yu Xiu had only been in the Inner Court for a short while—not even a full month, if you counted carefully. The guardian elder of the Library Pavilion, Liao Jianshu, naturally remembered him.

Yu Xiu had chosen the difficult-to-master Crimson Walk Sword Art back then, which had left an especially deep impression on Liao Jianshu.

By all rights, when disciples practicing the Crimson Walk Sword Art had similar talent and comprehension to others, they should progress more slowly. This sword art was harder to cultivate, but also more powerful.

But...

How had Yu Xiu entered the Life Spring realm in less than a month?

It made no sense!

Liao Jianshu knew better than anyone how difficult the twenty Qi Sea cultivation methods were. In the decades he had guarded the Inner Court Library Pavilion, the fastest person he had ever seen complete Qi Sea cultivation and enter the Life Spring realm had taken half a year.

He had never seen anyone enter the Life Spring realm in less than a month!

'With such comprehension, how did he remain in the Outer Court for three years?'

'Could he have suddenly become enlightened?'

His mind full of doubts, he stared at Yu Xiu for a long while before asking, "How did you cultivate your Qi Sea so quickly?"

He hadn't wanted to ask, but entering the Life Spring realm in less than a month was simply too astonishing. He couldn't help himself.

Fortunately, Yu Xiu had been farsighted enough to use Sword Heart to keep his Life Spring—formed from five hundred years of lifespan—concealed with Hidden Edge. Otherwise, it would have drawn even more attention.

Yu Xiu was silent for a moment, then replied, "This disciple felt that the Qi Sea realm cultivation methods weren't difficult, so I made a little faster progress."

'Not difficult?'

'You call that not difficult?'

'While everyone else crawls through the Qi Sea like a tortoise, you're flying!'

How could "not difficult" begin to explain it?

More importantly, the Sword-in-Hand lineage of the Qingwei Sword Sect integrated cultivation methods into swordsmanship. What mattered was comprehension and affinity with the sword.

Without sufficient comprehension, one couldn't master a cultivation method. Their realm couldn't advance, and even the finest natural treasures would be useless if they ate them!

'Or does he have a treasure that improves comprehension?'

'Could some Sword Sect expert of an extremely high realm be secretly guiding Yu Xiu, hand over hand?'

Thoughts flashed through Liao Jianshu's mind one after another. Several times, he almost couldn't resist keeping Yu Xiu by his side to study him closely.

In the end, however, he managed to hold back and simply asked, "Would you be willing to cultivate by my side for a while? I'll cover all your expenses during that time."

'If he truly became enlightened, then his comprehension is simply exceptional.'

'But if outside help is involved, Yu Xiu wouldn't agree, since he'd want to protect his secret. In that case...'

Liao Jianshu had tried again and again to suppress the stirrings in his heart, but in the end, a ripple still appeared!

Though he had spent years cultivating his mind and character, at that moment, even he struggled to keep his composure!

He hoped even more that Yu Xiu would refuse.

But, unexpectedly, Yu Xiu thought it over and readily agreed. "I don't mind cultivating by the elder's side for a while. I can cover all the expenses myself, though..."

Liao Jianshu's gaze tightened. His heart stirred, but he quickly suppressed it. "What do you want?"

Yu Xiu smiled sheepishly. "I'd like to read more books in the Library Pavilion. I hope the elder can make an exception for me."

'Read books?' Liao Jianshu pondered for a moment. "If you only want to read, then while you cultivate with me, you may freely browse any cultivation methods, sword arts, and the like in the Library Pavilion."

It was his territory, and he could open the door as wide as he liked. The sect wouldn't interfere. There was no real loss involved, and as long as Yu Xiu didn't pass the cultivation methods on to outsiders, even if the people above found out, they'd turn a blind eye.

"Really?" Yu Xiu's eyes lit up.

If he spent a few days reading in the Library Pavilion, wouldn't his comprehension skyrocket?

He was thrilled, but he also knew what the guardian elder wanted.

Still, the guardian elder was destined to be disappointed, because his comprehension really was that high!

"This is such a small matter. I wouldn't stoop to lying to you about it." Liao Jianshu picked up the book he had set aside and waved a hand. "Go choose some cultivation methods."

Yu Xiu seized the opportunity. "This disciple will start cultivating with you today. Could I read a few more books?"

Liao Jianshu's breath caught, as if something had lodged in his throat. In the end, he couldn't be bothered to speak and merely waved a hand, seemingly saying, 'Suit yourself.'

Yu Xiu was overjoyed. He cupped his fists in salute, then walked into the pavilion.

First, he chose the twenty chapters of the Life Spring realm cultivation method Returning Sun Sword Art. Then he picked the Life Spring realm sword technique Cold Aspect Sword.

Only after that did he begin to think things through.

The basic cultivation methods used at the beginning of cultivation, the Flawless Realm methods, only refined the body. So it didn't matter how many he practiced; they wouldn't conflict in the slightest.

But after reaching Qi Circulation, one developed inner energy and cultivated it. Different methods produced different kinds of inner energy, each with its own compatibility. If he practiced two methods at the same time, their inner energies would clash.

In other words, he could improve his comprehension, but he couldn't practice more than one method above the Qi Circulation realm. There was no point in reading them, either. He couldn't train in them, so he couldn't master them; naturally, they couldn't increase his comprehension or lifespan.

Unless one day Yu Xiu's comprehension became so high that he could master a method just by looking at it, without practicing it. Then he would be able to read those methods.

For now, he should focus on Life Spring realm sword arts, movement techniques, and footwork. He could also read and learn the basic cultivation methods and sword arts, along with those for the Flawless Realm.

So he chose another Life Spring realm lightness technique, Eight Steps Ascending Void. It was suited to long-distance dashes, and could also unleash tremendous speed in short bursts.

He also picked a Life Spring realm movement technique, Seven Star Wandering Body Steps. It excelled at dodging and changing direction within a small area, relying on light, nimble movements.

But he wasn't finished. He went on to select ten more lightness techniques, ten movement techniques, and ten sword arts, all at the Life Spring realm level.

When he took the pile of cultivation methods, sword arts, and movement techniques to guardian elder Liao Jianshu to exchange for the full texts, Liao Jianshu fell silent for a long while. At last, unable to hold back, he reminded him, "You have to eat your food one bite at a time. I think you understand that if you bite off more than you can chew, you'll choke."

After a pause, he added, "And though I can make an exception for you, could you at least avoid being so conspicuous about it?"

The Library Pavilion had its rules. Though those rules were in the hands of its guardian elder, Liao Jianshu, he couldn't trample them so brazenly.

Yu Xiu gave an awkward smile and put down more than twenty books, keeping only the cultivation methods, sword arts, and five or six lightness and movement techniques.

Liao Jianshu gave him the full texts.

Yu Xiu didn't stand on ceremony. He took them and read them carefully inside the pavilion.

[Returning Sun Sword Art, Chapter One: Beginner (468/800)]

'Just one glance, and I'm already at 468 in Beginner!'

This level of comprehension was already incredible!

But soon, his comprehension would undergo an even greater surge, rising to new heights.

Yu Xiu believed that once his comprehension broke a thousand, or even two thousand, he could probably reach Minor Mastery or even Major Mastery in a Life Spring realm cultivation method after reading it just once!

If you can't find the book by title, try searching for the author. It may have just been renamed!