Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art Advances, Activates Automatically!

Bathed in the Dao resonance of [Heart: Sincerity (Sword)], Jiang Xuan instinctively wanted to evolve all the myriad methods of the world toward swordsmanship.

The "Spring Breeze, Rain of Transformation Art" he was reading was originally a revival spell of Spring Valley, created by blending the Spring Return Incantation with the Minor Cloud-Rain Art. Of course, its rank was too low for it to be one of Four Seasons Valley's twenty-four secret arts.

Still, since it had been collected in the Scripture Repository, it possessed certain unique merits. As Jiang Xuan murmured the formula, his other hand unconsciously gestured through the air, actually attempting to use swordsmanship as its bones and bring forth the spirit of this art.

This scene also caused the gaunt old man meditating deep within the Scripture Repository to open his eyes. A trace of chill entered his gaze as he swept it directly toward Jiang Xuan.

Had Xia He not been beside him, repeatedly cupping her hands toward the old man in apology, Jiang Xuan would have been driven out long ago.

—The books in the Scripture Repository were precious, but also easily damaged. Thus, it was strictly forbidden to recklessly use arts here.

Jiang Xuan knew this principle as well. Yet at that moment, his mind was wholly immersed in the scripture and sword intent. Not only had he forgotten the repository's rules, he had even thrown his original purpose for coming here—to study Daoist scriptures and change professions into a Scripture Mystic Daoist—beyond the nine heavens.

Fortunately, Xia He's presence made the Scripture Repository elder show Jiang Xuan leniency.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan was free of distractions and wholly immersed in the self-forgetting state of comprehending the Dao, rather than deliberately defying the rules, the elder's furrowed brow loosened slightly.

The next instant, a silent art descended around Jiang Xuan, condensing into a special barrier—it could isolate outside disturbances and allow Jiang Xuan to comprehend in peace, while also containing all the sword intent and spells he tested within it, preventing damage to the repository's collections or disturbance to others.

Only after doing all this did the old man turn to Xia He and ask, "I have never seen this little fellow before. Is he a disciple who entered the sect this year?"

"Yes." Xia He nodded, and a hint of pride first rose onto her face. "This is Junior Brother Jiang Xuan. His talent is excellent. With just one tasting, he comprehended all the Four Seasons Dao resonances. I spent no small amount of effort persuading him to join us."

Having said that, she shot Jiang Xuan, who remained utterly unaware, an amused and exasperated glare. Lowering her voice, she complained, "Hmph. Earlier, you said my impression of sword cultivators was too stereotypical. But when you see something you fancy, you forget yourself completely—how are you any different from those sword-crazed maniacs?"

"The only difference is that they are obsessed with swords, while you are obsessed with books."

Those words made Yu Xian, the gaunt elder stationed in the Scripture Repository, shake his head. "Little Xia He, you have misread him. What he is obsessed with is still the sword. At this moment, he is transforming all methods into sword arts, using all methods to nurture sword intent."

At this point, he shook his head again. "At such a young age, wanting to do such things is somewhat too arrogant."

Those words immediately made Xia He anxious. Yet before she could defend Jiang Xuan, Yu Xian abruptly changed his tone after passing judgment. With a solemn expression, he said to Xia He, "But the path of the sword cultivator ought to possess this reckless spirit that charges forward without turning back. Those who follow rules step by step and cower before danger will never become top-tier sword cultivators."

"Little Xia He, this little fellow you found is good. Very good."

Staring at Jiang Xuan, who was free of distractions and wholly focused on the book before him, Yu Xian said "very good" twice in succession.

His praise instantly turned the anxiety on Xia He's face into astonishment.

Clearly, Xia He had never expected Yu Xian's evaluation of Jiang Xuan to be so high.

One had to know that regardless of the lineage, the Scripture Repository represented the place of inheritance—the foundation and future of a lineage.

Because of this importance, every elder capable of guarding the Scripture Repository was an old senior with the deepest cultivation and sharpest eye in the lineage.

Although Xia He was close to several old seniors due to her status, personality, and having grown up in Four Seasons Valley, those old seniors had always treated her as a child, an immature little girl.

Xia He herself had never received even a simple "not bad" evaluation, much less two consecutive "very goods." The astonishment in her heart was naturally imaginable.

But before long, the astonishment in Xia He's heart turned into pride and delight.

Pure-hearted by nature, she did not feel upset that Jiang Xuan had stolen her limelight. Her heart held only genuine happiness—happiness that Four Seasons Valley, which she regarded as her home, had finally awaited hope for restoring its glory, and that this excellent seedling had been personally brought back by her.

She raised her chin slightly and muttered in a low voice, "Naturally. When has my eye ever been poor?"

Though Xia He and Yu Xian were talking nearby, not a single word entered Jiang Xuan's ears. Having sensed no danger, he poured all his mind into the scripture before him.

Before long, Jiang Xuan finished reading and thoroughly comprehending the Spring Breeze, Rain of Transformation Art. Then, he began reading other books.

In this manner, Jiang Xuan stood in the Scripture Repository for several hours.

Though he carefully studied every volume and instinctively evolved the Dao he comprehended into sword moves through sword intent, under the dual enhancement of the Three Purification Incantations and [Heart: Sincerity (Sword)], his speed of memorizing and comprehending remained astonishingly fast.

More importantly, every Daoist scripture he read became solid cultivation and foundation for him.

This was no empty talk.

Within the game log, the system notifications were refreshing without pause.

[You recited the Spring Breeze, Rain of Transformation Art. You comprehended a trace of spring's revival essence and understood the principle that water blends into all things, that the highest goodness is like water.]

"Water dissolves into all things, and all things merge into water... Since water can embrace everything, could I use water's nature to fuse the Five Viscera Origin Qi of the One Qi Sword Art into one?"

[You evolved the Spring Breeze, Rain of Transformation Art into a sword art. Your Clear-Heart Sword Disciple profession experience +337.]

[Your One Qi Sword Art progress +113.]

[You completed one full circulation of the heavenly cycle. Your Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art progress +1.]

[Your Clear-Heart Sword Disciple has leveled up. Current level: 3/5.]

Time continued to pass as Jiang Xuan recited Daoist scriptures and Daoist classics, while the profession experience on his attribute panel continued to rise.

Throughout those several hours, Xia He remained quietly at his side.

This sight caused Meng Yingyue, who came to the Scripture Repository several times during that period, to raise her brows in surprise.

She knew her little junior sister's temperament better than anyone. It was certainly true that Xia He was bright and lively, but precisely because of that restless nature, she had never been someone who could sit still.

Yet this Xia He had actually quietly accompanied a newly initiated junior brother in the Scripture Repository for several hours. Besides her surprise, Meng Yingyue could not help feeling somewhat teasing.

Walking over to Xia He, she said with a quiet smile, "Our little Xia He has truly grown up."

How could Xia He fail to understand the twists and turns in those words? Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she hurriedly grabbed Meng Yingyue's sleeve as she softly retorted, "Sister Yingyue, don't talk nonsense! I merely regard Jiang Xuan as a little junior brother and wanted to look after him more."

Though she said so, she was the first to feel guilty inside.

She knew her own temperament well. Ordinarily, let alone sitting in the Scripture Repository for several hours, she could not even sit still for half an hour. Yet today, staying beside Jiang Xuan made her feel exceptionally tranquil and peaceful. This feeling was exactly the same as the state of mind described in the storybooks she usually read, when an immortal maiden encountered the one she loved.

The more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat, and the hotter the blush on her face became.

But this... was actually her overthinking things.

The tranquility she felt had nothing whatsoever to do with romantic affection. It was merely the clear, peaceful aura Jiang Xuan unconsciously radiated after the Three Purification Incantations merged with [Heart: Sincerity (Sword)].

No matter who it was, even burly men like Zhou Qing and Wu Shan would unconsciously calm down upon approaching Jiang Xuan at that moment.

Unfortunately, Jiang Xuan was currently in a state of self-forgetfulness. And even if he were awake, he might not necessarily reveal all his trump cards. This caused Xia He to develop so many romantic misunderstandings for no reason.

Yet none of this had anything to do with Jiang Xuan at that moment.

No matter what others thought, having sensed not the slightest danger, he continued pouring all his attention into the Daoist scriptures before him and the sword intent in his heart.

No one knew how long passed before a powerful wave of mental exhaustion swept over him, accompanied by the hollow hunger rising from his stomach. Only then did Jiang Xuan finally break free from that self-forgetting state.

"Whew... So tired. So hungry..."

Having abruptly left the state of [Heart: Sincerity (Sword)], coupled with several hours of high-intensity exertion of his soul, Jiang Xuan felt dizzy and disoriented, his mind a tangled mess. The blood and qi within his body had also suffered considerable depletion from the continuous operation of the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art.

The dual exhaustion of mind and body struck him. The moment he moved, his steps staggered.

Fortunately, the next moment, a pair of soft hands reached out in time and steadily supported his arm.

Turning his head and seeing that Xia He was supporting him, Jiang Xuan immediately relaxed. A smile tugged at his lips as he thanked her, "Thank you..."

But before he could finish, Xia He withdrew her hands as though she had been scalded.

"Huh?!"

This reaction left Jiang Xuan somewhat bewildered. He completely failed to understand why Xia He had reacted that way.

But before long, he could no longer spare attention for it.

After regulating his breathing and recovering some strength, Jiang Xuan raised his eyes toward the outside of the repository. Only then did he discover that the sky had already become completely dark, which made him freeze.

"How long have I been reading? What time is it now?"

"You read for four or five hours. It is now the hour of the boar." Though Meng Yingyue's teasing earlier had left Xia He feeling strange whenever she faced Jiang Xuan, she was still willing to answer such questions.

Hearing that it was now the hour of the boar—past nine at night in modern time—Jiang Xuan was completely numb.

His helpless, tearless expression made Xia He quickly rein in her thoughts and ask with concern, "What is it? Did something happen?"

"It is not really anything major... I had arranged to have dinner with someone earlier. It seems I have completely missed it now."

Knowing he could no longer make it, Jiang Xuan instead completely relaxed and stopped worrying.

After following Xia He out of the Yellow Mud Village where the Scripture Repository stood, Jiang Xuan first rested and regulated his breathing for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Once his physical strength and soul had recovered somewhat, he entered Four Seasons Valley under Xia He's guidance and gathered a large quantity of spirit fruits and spirit grains.

Since he had formally joined the sect, and Xia He thought highly of Jiang Xuan, seeing him as Four Seasons Valley's hope for restoring its former glory, the fruits and vegetables Jiang Xuan gathered were no longer the ordinary produce growing in Four Seasons Valley from the morning's assessment.

Everything Jiang Xuan gathered this time was a spirit item.

Among them was even a ten-year-old White Jade Ginseng.

Jiang Xuan held a feast ritual for these foods. Once the ritual ended, he, already ravenous with hunger, swallowed all those spirit items into his stomach.

"Gulp..."

Vast blood qi and spiritual qi poured into his body, making Jiang Xuan's cheeks flush red as he felt as though his entire body were burning—he had absorbed too much energy at once, causing the blood and qi within him to surge madly.

Fortunately, the next moment, the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Method began operating at full force.

And this time, the moment the cultivation method began circulating, Jiang Xuan noticed an utterly different change—too smooth! The nearly imperceptible stagnation that used to exist whenever he circulated the method had vanished without a trace.

At the same time, he could clearly sense that the endlessly surging flood of spiritual qi and mana within his body had connected head to tail, forming a flawless, perfect cycle of the heavenly circulation.

This completeness made Jiang Xuan's mana inexhaustible, allowing it to be activated at any time and in any place.

Beyond that, the mana flowing endlessly through the meridians of his entire body spontaneously formed a fine, tough protective net.

From this day onward, any attack wishing to injure his internal organs would first have to penetrate this net of mana, as well as the flesh constantly tempered and strengthened by mana.

"No, there are also the acupoints. If circulating mana is like a network of rivers, then the acupoints I have already activated are the checkpoints and fortresses along that river network... No wonder cultivators are difficult to kill. So long as the heavenly cycle never stops, ordinary weapons can at most break the skin and flesh; they cannot harm one's foundation at all."

"Moreover, when a martial artist's inner force encounters this mana protection net, it will be completely redirected and dissolved... These two professions truly are not on the same level."

Feeling the endlessly circulating, seamless flood of mana within his body, Jiang Xuan's heart was filled with calm, while a clear realization also arose within him.

"Nothing unexpected happened. My Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art... has reached the third realm, Proficient!"

The truth was exactly as he expected.

Opening his profession panel, Jiang Xuan saw the clear notification at a glance: the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art had advanced to the third realm, Proficient.

Aside from the marvelous ability to automatically protect his body, the greatest change after advancing was that the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art's circulation had become completely synchronized with Jiang Xuan's breathing.

From this moment on, whether he sat, lay down, walked, deeply slept, or even lay gravely injured and unconscious, this cultivation method would circulate automatically in his body like the instinct of breathing, constantly tempering his flesh and protecting his foundation.

"At last, I am no longer a fragile weakling who shatters at a touch."

The rise in strength delighted Jiang Xuan. Rather than rushing home, he instead began striding through the mountain forests of Four Seasons Valley.

Of course, though it was called running, the endless circulation of mana in his body meant that with merely a light tap of his toes against the ground, his figure would dart forward like a flying swallow, leaping more than ten meters at a time.

After running continuously for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he not only felt no fatigue, but instead felt his blood and qi flow smoothly through his body, leaving him refreshed and invigorated.

"Exhilarating!"

The leap in his strength let him truly experience the sensation of transcending the ordinary, and an unprecedented sense of security rose in his heart.

Unfortunately, he did not have much time today to savor this power carefully.

After running for another cup of tea's time, once the excitement in his heart had settled somewhat, Jiang Xuan bid Xia He farewell and prepared to return home.

Xia He did not stop him. Before he left, she merely told him one thing: "I have already found you a place to stay in Yellow Mud Village. If you cultivate late in the future, you can come stay there anytime."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

After cupping his hands in thanks to Xia He, Jiang Xuan boarded a flying boat and hurried home. Nothing unexpected occurred along the way. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Xuan returned home and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, after greeting his mother, he headed straight for Star Daoist Academy.

Upon arriving at the academy, Jiang Xuan immediately found Dong Hao and apologized with a wry smile. "Sorry for the trouble. After I successfully joined an inner sect branch yesterday, I became engrossed in cultivation. By the time I came to my senses, it was already late, and I had no time to attend the dinner. I hope you can forgive me."

"No matter, no matter." Before Jiang Xuan came to apologize, Dong Hao had indeed felt somewhat uncomfortable.

He had waited outside the restaurant for a long time yesterday. He had even worried that after Jiang Xuan had been rated outstanding, he might become arrogant and conceited.

But Jiang Xuan's sincere explanation now confirmed that the Jiang Xuan he valued was still someone with principles, which made Dong Hao breathe a sigh of relief.

At the same time, a trace of curiosity arose in his heart.

"Brother Jiang, did you successfully enter Star Sword Peak?"

"No, I joined..."

Just as Jiang Xuan was about to explain that he had joined Four Seasons Valley, a cool voice suddenly came from the side.

"Sorry about yesterday. I was the one who dragged you into it."

The one who spoke was naturally Xie Hanyan, the member of Jiang Xuan's group with the highest Spirit Root talent.

Her first sentence did not concern Jiang Xuan. What made him raise his brow was her second sentence: "I asked Senior Sister Su Xingying for a favor. She has permitted you to challenge Star Sword Peak again this afternoon."