Classmate Bonds, Seeking Senior Sisters Again

"Marrow-Burning Sword Fiend Formula? Why is Senior Brother seeking such a Tiger-Wolf Method?"

Jiang Ningxue asked in surprise.

Cultivation flourished greatly in this world, and Mountain-Lifting Prefecture was no exception. Thus, apart from ordinary mortals, sects and lineages of every size emerged one after another, while cultivation methods were as numerous as the stars.

The disciples of Hibernation Academy had been selected from across all of Mountain-Lifting Prefecture.

Naturally, some among them came from small cultivation lineages. Having been immersed in such matters from childhood, they knew more about cultivation and possessed inherited methods of their own.

Yet no method could compare to the profundity of Heaven-Gazing Sect's teachings. Thus, once they entered Heaven-Gazing Sect, they all abandoned their lineage methods and turned to the true Orthodox Cultivation Methods of an Immortal Cult.

But not cultivating them did not mean they did not possess them.

Jiang Ningxue came from a small cultivation lineage. Her family had only two cultivation elders who gathered Turbid Qi, their strength meager, barely surviving in the cultivation world.

Thus, although Jiang Ningxue had failed at Qi Refining, she had never considered returning to her lineage to inherit its mantle, nor would her lineage have agreed to it.

If they could put down roots in Heaven-Gazing Sect, then even if this generation failed, the next generation would still have hope.

Moreover, cultivating in Heaven-Gazing Sect was exceedingly safe, countless times better than the outside world.

Her lineage possessed a Qi-Refining Realm method named the Marrow-Burning Sword Fiend Formula.

Once this sword art was unleashed, it moved like thunder. Methods even slightly inferior to it could not stop it, and once it entered an enemy cultivator's body, it would suck marrow and devour blood until the enemy cultivator died. It was exceedingly tyrannical and sinister.

Yet its drawback was equally obvious, just as its name suggested.

Burning marrow!

Once this sword art was cultivated, it would burn one's own blood and marrow. It was a brutal method that killed a thousand enemies while inflicting eight hundred wounds upon oneself.

Unless driven to the utmost extremity, Jiang Clan disciples would never cultivate this method.

Since entering Heaven-Gazing Sect, Jiang Ningxue had never considered cultivating it either.

Heaven-Gazing Sect's grand and radiant Orthodox Cultivation Methods were beyond counting. Even though she had failed at Qi Refining and switched to cultivating the Golden Armor Jade Body, she still had wondrous methods available to her. Why suffer through a marrow-burning method?

Precisely because it had seemed irrelevant, she had mentioned this method while chatting with her classmates during her cultivation of the Embryonic Breath Sword Art at Hibernation Academy.

That was how Lu Xuan had learned of it.

But she had not expected Lu Xuan, whose Second Grand Rite had succeeded and whose future was bright, to come seeking this method.

Lu Xuan did not hide anything. "Junior Sister, you may not know this, but although my Second Grand Rite succeeded, I ultimately missed the proper time. Therefore, I must rely on myself to contend for a spirit treasure, and I must leave the day after tomorrow."

"There is too little time. It is already too late to cultivate the sect's Orthodox Cultivation Methods, so I can only seek a method that yields quick results."

"As for this method's dangers, Junior Sister need not worry. I have my own plan and will not harm my cultivation."

Only then did Jiang Ningxue understand, though she immediately frowned again. "Senior Brother has only just begun Qi Refining. This is precisely when you need to cultivate steadily. Yet they are making you contend for a spirit treasure now—when did our Immortal Cult's bearing become so petty?"

Lu Xuan shook his head and smiled. "The Immortal Cult values life; naturally, it has its reasons. This time, though there is danger in my competing for it, it is also an opportunity. Perhaps I may even get ahead of my senior brothers and sisters by a step..."

Jiang Ningxue's expression finally eased. "So that is how it is."

The Immortal Cult valued life, but one still had to earn things through one's own efforts. A spirit treasure that could put one a cut above others was indeed worth contending for.

With that thought, she did not hesitate. She told Lu Xuan to wait, then entered the inner room. Before long, she returned carrying a golden booklet.

"I had thought this method would be useless within the Immortal Cult, so I did not carry it with me and left it in my residence instead. Since Senior Brother wants it, take it and have a look." Jiang Ningxue generously handed the golden booklet directly to Lu Xuan, yet still cautioned him once:

"I know Senior Brother is a man of firm ideas. Since you say you do not fear this method's future troubles, you must have some wondrous technique in mind. I have only reached Embryonic Breath Realm, so I will not ask further. But this method is truly brutal. At the Qi Refining First Layer, you may activate at most three sword strikes. Otherwise, once your blood and marrow are completely burned away, I fear even ordinary wondrous methods will be unable to save you."

"Thank you, Junior Sister!"

Lu Xuan did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the golden booklet and thanked her, then swept his sleeve and took out a brocade pouch, placing it upon the table.

"I cannot simply read Junior Sister's inherited method for nothing. I have nine Spirit Stones here; Junior Sister, take them and buy some spiritual treasures to nourish yourself."

Jiang Ningxue shook her head and pushed the pouch back. "I appreciate Senior Brother's kindness, but this method would not fetch a price even in the sect marketplace. Why would I need Spirit Stones? Since Senior Brother needs it, simply study it. No gift of thanks is necessary."

That was merely polite talk.

Since Lu Xuan had come, he had naturally weighed the matter already.

Though the Marrow-Burning Sword Fiend Formula had grave drawbacks, its power could not be underestimated once activated. Otherwise, the Jiang Clan would not have given it to Jiang Ningxue for self-defense, nor would Jiang Ningxue have shown it off at Hibernation Academy.

More than ten Spirit Stones were still worth it.

Spirit Stones were extremely useful. They could power formations and puppets, as well as be used in alchemy and artifact refinement. Thus, the cultivation world had adopted them as common currency.

Generally speaking, one Spirit Stone was equivalent to the amount of power a Qi Refining First Layer cultivator could sustain for ten days.

Put plainly, it was equivalent to ten days of "work" for a Qi Refining First Layer cultivator.

That was because powering a Qi Refining First Layer puppet or formation for ten days consumed roughly one Spirit Stone.

Thus, an ordinary Qi Refining First Layer cultivator would earn approximately three Spirit Stones in compensation for a month of labor.

Of course, different kinds of "labor" naturally brought different rewards.

As for Lu Xuan and the others, they had also received Spirit Stones during their cultivation at Hibernation Academy—one per season, four per year.

Over nine years, that totaled thirty-six.

But how could anyone live in this world without spending?

Lu Xuan now had only twenty-seven remaining.

Lu Xuan pushed the brocade pouch toward her again. "Junior Sister, do not deceive me. This method is an ancestral method of the Jiang Clan. I know its worth, and I know these Spirit Stones are too few. But I am truly short of funds at present. In the future, I will certainly thank Junior Sister again."

Jiang Ningxue merely shook her head. "We have been classmates for nine years. Some matters need not be measured in profit. If Senior Brother studies this method, will I suffer any loss?"

"On the contrary, Senior Brother studying this method benefits me."

At this, Jiang Ningxue could not help smiling. "Since Senior Brother is short of funds, keep them for where the blade is needed."

Lu Xuan already had a plan in mind and insisted on giving them. Jiang Ningxue had no choice but to accept.

After this back-and-forth, the two seemed to have grown somewhat closer. Jiang Ningxue asked, "Senior Brother, whose residence will you visit next among our classmates?"

"Oh? How did Junior Sister know that I still planned to visit other classmates?"

Lu Xuan raised a brow, curious.

"The Immortal Cult had us cultivate at Hibernation Academy for nine years not only so that we could understand our hearts, comprehend the Dao, and find Qi Sensitivity, but also so that we could deepen the bonds between fellow disciples and become people truly united in aspiration!"

"Now that Senior Brother has a matter to attend to, if you do not seek out your classmates, whom else could you seek?!"

Jiang Ningxue's laughter was crisp, and her tone carried a trace of emotion.

This was how great Daoist sects nurtured their disciples—binding them through affection.

Otherwise, even if they imparted ten thousand great paths, what use would it be if their disciples were unwilling to fight for the Immortal Cult, remained unmoved at the sight of fellow disciples dying, or even rejoiced at it?

The immortal path was heartless, yet it also needed feeling.

"Junior Sister truly is clever. I do indeed intend to visit two more senior sisters..."

Lu Xuan nodded, his tone also touched with emotion.

Yes, after nine years as classmates—studying the same books, reciting the same scriptures, eating together in the same hall—how could one not have one or two friends who would lend a hand in hardship?

Even if the great Dao was heartless and time would bring distance, they were still in the bloom of youth, their hearts retaining their innocent sincerity.

It was only that his former self had preferred quiet, while his appearance was exceptionally striking—cold and handsome—so most of those he interacted with in daily life had been female cultivators...