Elder Liao's Shock

[Returning Sun Sword Art, Chapter 2: Entry (468/800)]...

[Returning Sun Sword Art, Chapter 10: Entry (468/800)]...

[Returning Sun Sword Art, Chapter 20: Entry (468/800)]

[Cold Aspect Sword: Entry (468/800)]

[Eight Steps Ascending Void: Entry (468/800)]

[Seven Star Wandering Body Steps: Entry (468/800)]

Yu Xiu spent the entire day reading in the Library Pavilion.

Since the pavilion elder, Liao Jianshu, had given his word, he might as well make the most of it.

In any case, he would be cultivating by Elder Liao's side for a while as agreed, and that was enough.

By dusk, when the Library Pavilion closed its doors, Yu Xiu finally departed alongside Elder Liao.

Throughout the day, Yu Xiu had managed to read ten movement techniques, ten footwork techniques, and ten sword arts, all at the Life Spring realm, along with seven or eight minor arts like Breath Concealment Art, Turtle Breath Art, and Sound Transmission Art.

It is worth noting that the texts for Breath Concealment Art, Turtle Breath Art, and Sound Transmission Art were very short, often only a thousand characters or so; they were merely minor tricks that required no real cultivation.

He read them twice and reached perfection, though it added neither comprehension nor lifespan.

Yu Xiu even improved the Turtle Breath Art, Breath Concealment Art, and Sound Transmission Art significantly; with his current level of comprehension, the modified versions were far more effective.

The Turtle Breath Art, in particular, originally allowed a Life Spring cultivator to suspend their breath, pulse, and heartbeat for about seven days, but after his modifications, he could sustain it for ten.

There was also the Embryonic Breath Art, which converted external breathing to internal; under normal circumstances, a Life Spring cultivator could maintain embryonic breathing for half a month, but Yu Xiu's modified version could sustain it for over twenty days.

Then there was the Disguise Art, which could alter not just one's face but one's bone structure as well, though it was quite troublesome to practice as it included the Bone Shrinking Technique.

There were also Detoxification Art, Poison Avoidance Art, and the Hundred Poisons Immunity Body, all of which were equally tedious to master.

However, since these minor arts provided no actual boost to his strength, comprehension, or lifespan, Yu Xiu had no intention of practicing them for the time being.

Techniques like Poison Avoidance and Detoxification required learning pharmacology first, while the Hundred Poisons Immunity Body required one to subject themselves to various poisons and slowly build up a tolerance.

Yu Xiu felt such trouble was unnecessary; once his strength increased, certain poisons would naturally lose their effect on him.

If a poison were truly potent enough to kill someone at the Four Great Passes or above, then this Hundred Poisons Immunity Body would be meaningless anyway.

However, Yu Xiu did not find any pure body-refining techniques in the Library Pavilion.

They certainly existed, but they were likely not in the Inner Court; they were probably kept in the main sect's library.

He was in no rush; once he entered the main sect, he would naturally find them.

It was just that by then, he wouldn't have such a generous elder letting him read for free.

Once I enter the main sect, I must find an opportunity to compete for a position as a direct disciple.

The status of a direct disciple was extremely high, not beneath that of an elder; reading the techniques and sword arts in the library should be a trivial matter.

"You read so many books, where do you find the energy to practice?" Elder Liao chided him for his lack of focus. "At your stage, you should prioritize your realm and cultivation. Especially for a disciple with your excellent aptitude, you are in a period of rapid advancement and should focus on that. These minor arts, sword techniques, and footwork can wait until your progress slows down later."

Until my comprehension is displayed before you, I will not say a single word more. Yu Xiu smiled and did not argue.

Seeing this, Elder Liao flicked his sleeve and said nothing more, only stating, "Follow me."

He walked up the mountain and entered a rather imposing residence.

Though called a residence, it was essentially a large courtyard with brick-and-tile houses, far superior to the Bamboo Cottage of the Inner Court disciples.

Upon entering the courtyard, Elder Liao set up a rattan chair under the eaves and sat down comfortably. "Practice."

Yu Xiu didn't mind at all; he agreed and took out a Truth Realization Pill to consume.

He had exchanged for this Truth Realization Pill at the Internal Affairs Hall earlier that day for thirty contribution points; it could sustain a normal Life Spring disciple's cultivation for five days. Yu Xiu had exchanged for fifteen in total, costing him four hundred and fifty contribution points.

Returning Sun Sword Art Chapter 1 +50

Returning Sun Sword Art Chapter 1 +50

Returning Sun Sword Art Chapter 1 +50

His progress was rapid, and Elder Liao, who had been lounging comfortably nearby, gradually straightened up, his expression growing increasingly solemn until it turned into shock!

The progress... how can it be this fast?

He saw clearly that when Yu Xiu practiced the first time, he had already reached the entry level and was rapidly approaching minor success.

But he also remembered clearly that Yu Xiu had only encountered the Returning Sun Sword Art today.

Throughout the entire day, other than his trip to the Internal Affairs Hall to exchange for Truth Realization Pills, Yu Xiu had never left his sight.

He was certain that this was Yu Xiu's first time practicing the Returning Sun Sword Art.

So, when exactly did Yu Xiu master the first chapter of the Returning Sun Sword Art?

For an ordinary disciple who had just entered the Life Spring realm, it would be considered fast to reach the entry level of a Life Spring technique in ten days or half a month; it was perfectly normal for it to take one or even three months.

But Yu Xiu...

Is there really someone who can master a Life Spring technique just by looking at it once?

What kind of monstrous comprehension is this?

Before this, Elder Liao had harbored many guesses; perhaps Yu Xiu had some unimaginable treasure to assist his cultivation, or perhaps a master from the Sword Sect was guiding him in secret, or maybe it was some other reason entirely!

Yet now, Yu Xiu was practicing his swordplay right under his nose, growing stronger with every repetition, his progress impossibly fast.

The increase in his strength was equally exaggerated!

He is relying on comprehension, an extremely high level of comprehension! Elder Liao's expression shifted uncertainly, until finally, as if struck by a thought, his mind began to wander.

It was not until several hours later that Yu Xiu stopped his sword practice.

[Returning Sun Sword Art Chapter One: Minor Accomplishment (1200/1500)]

He was already nearing Great Accomplishment!

But looking at the sky, it was getting late, and he needed to get to sleep early.

Elder Liao seemed to snap back to reality: "In all these years, your comprehension is the highest I have ever seen, bar none."

He paused: "You do not need to come and practice with me tomorrow, lest it waste your time."

He had to guard the Library Pavilion during the day, and Yu Xiu could not practice his swordplay there, which would be a waste of effort.

"Furthermore, when you enter the Main Sect, this old man can find a teacher for you; with your aptitude, you should be able to compete for the position of a true disciple."

"Finally, this old man has a favor to ask. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter, but if you are willing to help, the Inner Court Library Pavilion will be opened to you entirely, for you to read as you please."

Hm? The Inner Court Library Pavilion, opened entirely to him! Yu Xiu was overjoyed.

Of these two points, Elder Liao's offer to find him a teacher and help him compete for the true disciple position was something he did not care about.

Although there might be various factional struggles within the Main Sect, where people had backers, support, resources, and connections, none of this counted as an obstacle to Yu Xiu.

His comprehension could be stacked infinitely; no matter your backers or support, in the face of absolute strength, all of them would have to step aside.

In the cultivation world and within the sect, strength was ultimately what spoke the loudest.

But the prerequisite for all of this was for Yu Xiu's comprehension to be stacked to a very, very high degree, and as it happened, the Library Pavilion could satisfy all of that.