Xue Mu clenched his fist and stretched his arm, feeling the surging power within him.
His body didn't feel any different yet; that was because it hadn't been tempered. He knew that if he threw a punch now, the combined force of his surging true qi and poison qi would erupt with enough power to shatter stone tablets.
Not only that, he could clearly feel his thoughts growing sharper, his senses keener. Even a strand of spider silk by the wall stood out in startling clarity, while the soft rustle of bamboo leaves outside sounded like music from heaven.
No wonder so many people became hopelessly addicted to power. This feeling of perceiving the world in all its vastness was something modern people could never experience, and it was easy to get hooked.
And this was only the most basic use of his power.
According to the Hundred Herbs Poison Technique, his poison qi could take on countless forms of attack. Just by arranging and combining its properties, he could produce an endless variety of effects. It was far more than a simple blast of energy.
Right now, he was like a newly minted millionaire who had suddenly come into several million, but hadn't yet learned how to spend it. If someone punched him, he still wouldn't know how to respond.
Spending money was a skill, too—one he could devote his whole life to mastering.
No matter what, at least people wouldn't be able to kill him with a glare anymore... And he wouldn't have to make a girl take an aphrodisiac before they did it... That was what mattered!
"Overall, the poison arts are strong on offense and weak on defense. They weren't really suited to your role, since we don't need you going out and killing people. But I believe that with your intelligence, you'll find an approach that works for you. If anything puzzles you, come discuss it with me." Xue Qingqiu gave him earnest guidance. "You can make ample use of external aids while studying the poison arts, but real combat must be learned from scratch. Martial techniques and the art of wielding poison are both vast fields. They can't be mastered overnight, and nothing external can help you; it all depends on your own efforts. The most I can do is find someone to spar with you and capture people for you to test your poisons on. That's all I can arrange."
"I'll do my best."
The two of them slowly left the secret chamber. The sun had already set, painting the western sky with evening clouds. Their training had lasted a full three hours, though to Xue Mu it had felt like no more than a moment.
They both looked up at the sky and fell silent at the same time.
After a while, they suddenly spoke together. "Actually..."
They exchanged a glance, then both laughed. Xue Qingqiu smiled. "You first."
"Actually, I'm only training to protect myself. I don't have any ambition to become a master or pursue some profound truth. I have a lot of ideas I need to put into practice, so I may not have much time to train. I might disappoint you, Sister."
Xue Qingqiu nodded and gave a rueful sigh. "That's what I wanted to say, too. I've been hesitating. At first, I wanted to give you all the sect's records and have you devote yourself to them, but another part of me really hopes you'll climb higher on the path of martial arts... I know a person's energy is limited, and it's almost impossible to do both, but I'm still being greedy."
Xue Mu couldn't help asking, "Why do you hope I'll climb higher on the path of martial arts?"
Xue Qingqiu froze for a moment, then turned her head away without answering.
Xue Mu seemed to understand what she meant. He pressed his lips together and said nothing more.
Everyone hoped their partner would share their interests and passions, and that they could walk toward the same goal with each other by their side. But Xue Qingqiu couldn't possibly say that aloud. He wasn't her partner.
The two looked up at the fading clouds again. After a long while, Xue Qingqiu murmured, "I wonder where Chan'er is now."
That was one of the greatest knots in both their hearts.
Xue Mu was about to answer when a fiercely sharp sword qi suddenly shot into the sky in the distance, its dazzling light making it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
Their attention shifted at once. Xue Qingqiu narrowed her eyes and watched for a long moment. "What magnificent Lingxiao Sword Intent. Judging by that cultivation, it must be Mu Jianli. The Sword Inquiry Sect is fortunate to have her. With this woman, they can preserve their prestige for at least a century."
"Xiao Chan is no worse than her. If the Sword Inquiry Sect can keep its prestige for a century, our Star Moon Sect will endure for millennia."
"Not a word of that is sincere." Xue Qingqiu shot him a sidelong glance. "What you mean is, the Star Moon Sect will endure for millennia because it has you..."
Xue Mu laughed. "I really didn't mean that. I was just tossing out a casual bit of flattery... Don't tell me that's what you think, Sister?"
Xue Qingqiu didn't look at him. Her gaze drifted toward the distant place where the sword intent had soared into the heavens. "With you in the Star Moon Sect, I can't tell whether it will endure for millennia or be destroyed in a day."
Xue Mu replied firmly, "I can't promise the former, but I can promise it won't be the latter."
Xue Qingqiu smiled faintly. "I hope so."
A cluster of figures appeared ahead. A little girl came running over with a group of people. "Senior Sister, Mu-mu, you're out of seclusion!"
Mu-mu... Xue Mu could only laugh helplessly. Beside him, Xue Qingqiu lowered her gaze to Yin Ye's little face, expressionless.
Yin Ye shuddered, her little mouth quivering as if she were about to cry, though no tears came.
Xue Qingqiu clearly had no idea what to do with this junior sister. In truth, she didn't know what anyone should call Xue Mu, either. Forget it—Mu-mu would do. It wasn't a big deal. She composed herself, clasped her hands behind her back, and asked, "What happened over there?"
Zhuo Qingqing stepped forward. "The eight Righteous Path sects confronted the Pleasure-Seeking Pavilion and demanded that they remove their uniforms. The First Prince was there to mediate, and used his words to corner Mo Xuexin and the others. They agreed to settle things by having their disciples fight."
Xue Qingqiu looked toward the horizon. The sword intent had dispersed by now, and she spoke with a hint of mockery. "I imagine the winner has already been decided."
"The Joyous Union Sect has no shame. They called it a contest between disciples, but then set up a formation for someone to break. Even with equal numbers, anyone can tell the difference in difficulty between defending a formation and breaking one." Zhuo Qingqing's eyes held a measure of admiration as she continued, "In the end, Mu Jianli faced them alone with nothing but her sword and utterly defeated the Joyous Union Sect's Twelve Joyous Formations. Then she left without saying a word, cold and aloof."
Xue Mu clicked his tongue.
How to put it... It was only at this moment—or perhaps only after meeting Mu Jianli—that this world had given him the feeling of a true martial-arts world: a life devoted to the sword, with nothing else. It was so wuxia, so full of feeling.
Her combat strength probably couldn't be measured by her mid-Hua Yun Realm cultivation. She seemed like the sort of protagonist who could easily challenge opponents above her level.
But the martial world was one thing, society another... Mu Jianli's behavior would probably leave many people in the Righteous Path unhappy. A hero? What good did that do?
If she hadn't come from a super sect, it would probably be hard for her to get anywhere. People had to learn how to deal with others first.
But then again, without such single-minded devotion, she wouldn't have achieved what she had. What a contradiction.
At any rate, Xue Mu admired her. That was the romance of the martial world... How many Chinese boys hadn't dreamed of a world like this, and a sword like that, when they were young?
Just then, Meng Lan hurried in from outside and bowed. "Sect Master, Young Master, Mu Jianli requests an audience."
Everyone in the Star Moon Sect was stunned. She had just left so coldly—so she'd come here? "What does she want? Isn't she afraid she won't make it back?"
She really wasn't afraid of dying. She knew their Sect Master was here—wasn't she afraid they'd kill her and destroy a Righteous Path prodigy? Did she think the Demon Sect cared about honor?
Was there some scheme behind this? Xue Mu's mind went straight to conspiracy theories, and he couldn't help asking, "What exactly did she say?"
Meng Lan answered, "Her exact words were: 'Mu Jianli, a novice of the Sword Inquiry Sect, has traveled ten thousand li on a sword pilgrimage and come this far. I hope the Sect Master will remember the hardship of seeking the Dao and grant me a look at Star Soul Cloud Vague.'"
Xue Mu was dumbfounded. What on earth was that supposed to mean?
"She came on a sword pilgrimage all the way here?" Xue Qingqiu's expression turned very strange, and after several seconds, she said, "Invite her to the main hall... No, bring her to the Bamboo Pavilion in the back."
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