Spiritual Energy Body Tempering.
The Purple Sun Sword Qi changed once more.
Previously, it had been an invisible substance formed by compressing Internal Qi through a secret technique.
After merging with Earth Elemental Spiritual Energy, it transformed into earth-yellow True Essence.
With a thought from Zhou Yi, a True Yuan Flying Sword one-third of an inch long hovered above his palm.
"False Qi Condensation!"
Joy rose in Zhou Yi's heart, and the True Yuan Flying Sword dispersed.
"False Qi Condensation not only consumes the True Essence within the body, but also Spiritual Power! Cultivators meditate every day not merely to cultivate qi, but to focus their minds as well!"
Zhou Yi drew upon the Earth Elemental Spiritual Energy within three feet of him and turned it into an Invisible Flying Blade, which swept across the greenstone wall.
Soundlessly, the greenstone split in two.
"The Innate Realm can draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, but its power is far inferior to the True Essence within the body. It can only bully martial artists below the Innate Realm."
Innate Grandmasters transcended the ordinary, and one aspect of that was their ability to wield Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
Acquired masters had no equivalent means of resisting them and could easily be crushed, unless they relied on sheer numbers to wear down an Innate Grandmaster's strength.
"Still, trying to overwhelm an Innate Grandmaster to death is basically impossible."
With another thought, the Purple Lightning Sword hung motionless in the air as Zhou Yi leaped onto it.
With a wave of his hand, the chamber door shattered with a boom, and he flew out on his sword.
Secluded cultivation blurred the passing days and months.
When he emerged from seclusion, the full moon was hanging high overhead.
Cold moonlight enveloped Zhou Yi, making it seem as though he wore a faint halo.
The Blade Hands on night patrol heard the tremendous crash and hurried over, only to see Zhou Yi riding a sword through the air.
"An immortal!"
"It's Lord Sword Saint!"
"The Sword Saint has ascended to immortality!"
The ancients had always deeply believed in immortals and gods, not to mention that this world truly possessed immortals, demons, and monsters.
The Blade Hands all fell to their knees and kowtowed. Some cried out to the immortal, while others prayed for blessings.
"This Daoist is Chi Xiaozi. Today, I have comprehended the great Dao of the Innate Realm. Splendid! Splendid!"
Zhou Yi threw back his head and let out a long howl. His flying sword rose more than a zhang into the air before shooting toward Black Mountain in the blink of an eye.
"Tell Immortal Chen to transport the Fierce Fire Oil to Black Mountain. This Daoist has great use for it!"
His lingering voice drifted away as his figure vaguely vanished into the moonlight.
The Blade Hands stood dumbfounded. Then they all rushed toward Immortal's Pavilion, shouting wildly along the way.
"Lord Sword Saint has ascended to immortality..."
"Lord Sword Saint has ascended to immortality..."
Immortal's Pavilion.
Chen Jinyu was awakened by the commotion outside. When she opened her eyes, she found Chu Hong already standing guard at her side.
"Sister, you've worked hard. What happened outside?"
Chu Hong shook her head. She had been awakened as well and had immediately come to protect Chen Jinyu.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
Then a maid's voice came from outside. "Madam, Madam, Chen Kuan requests an audience over an urgent matter. He says it concerns Lord Sword Saint."
"Chen Kuan? Wasn't he guarding the place where Husband is in seclusion? Could something have happened?"
Chen Jinyu hurriedly put on her clothes and ran outside.
Chen Kuan was from a branch of the Chen Family of the Golden Saber Sect. By seniority, he was even Chen Jinyu's elder cousin. They could not trust outsiders to guard Zhou Yi's place of secluded cultivation.
But Chu Hong stopped her and said gravely, "Be careful. This could be a trap!"
Immortal's Brew involved far too many benefits. It would not be surprising for some scheme or conspiracy to arise.
"No. Husband is what matters most."
Ignoring Chu Hong's warning, Chen Jinyu went directly to the fourth floor and met Chen Kuan.
Chen Kuan dropped to his knees with a thud. "Madam, Lord Sword Saint... he has ascended to immortality!"
"Ascended to immortality? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Chen Jinyu's heart clenched. Rather than feeling joy, she was seized by a painful sense of dread.
"Lord Sword Saint had been in seclusion for over two months without food or water. Everyone guessed that he might be cultivating immortal arts. Then tonight, while I was on night watch..."
Chen Kuan spoke in a jumbled, rambling fashion. Only after repeating himself three or four times did he finally explain the simple matter clearly.
By then, Chu Hong had come downstairs as well. Hearing that Zhou Yi had departed on a flying sword, her expression flickered with uncertainty.
"Riding a sword... ascending to immortality... How could this be... how could this be..." Chen Jinyu muttered, unable to believe it.
Chu Hong could not help saying, "Jinyu, I have read the manuscripts left behind by the founder of Hundred Flowers Valley. Once martial cultivation reaches the Innate Realm, one can command the power of heaven and earth and cross the skies. Though they did not mention the art of sword flight, Lord Sword Saint is proficient in swordsmanship. It is not impossible for him to possess such profound mysteries."
Chen Jinyu raised her head, and only then did Chu Hong see the two streaks of tears on her face.
"Sister Hong, I still don't want to believe it..."
"What's wrong, Jinyu? The Sword Saint has become an Innate Grandmaster. Everyone in the world who covets Immortal's Brew will no longer dare harbor the slightest ill intent."
Chu Hong was a true member of the martial world. She had entered Hundred Flowers Valley in her youth and cultivated there before traveling the jianghu for nearly ten years. In terms of experience in the martial world alone, she knew even more than Zhou Yi.
Thus, Chu Hong clearly understood exactly what an Innate Grandmaster represented.
The Great Jing Court had declined to this extent. At least half of the Thirty-Six Prefectures harbored disloyal intentions, yet no one dared raise the banner of rebellion.
The fundamental reason was that an old prince from the imperial family, an Innate Grandmaster from two generations ago, had not yet exhausted his lifespan. Anyone who dared rebel would be courting death.
The imperial family had scoured the realm for methods to extend life, sparing no cost to prolong the old prince's life, all because they did not want this pillar that steadied the seas to fall.
Zhou Yi was only twenty years old, yet he had become an Innate Grandmaster. Exaggerated as it might sound, if he harbored rebellious ambitions and raised the banner of revolt, he could gather a force capable of sweeping through Jiangnan in a short time.
Chen Jinyu shook her head and said through tears, "Sister, you don't understand. I always knew he could become an Innate Grandmaster."
"I thought it would take at least ten or twenty years. Even if we saw each other rarely, there would still be hope. By then, I would be old and faded, so whether we met or not would make little difference. I just never expected this day to come so quickly..."
"Sister, I have a feeling that perhaps I will only see him a few times for the rest of my life."
Chu Hong sighed and patted Chen Jinyu on the shoulder.
Off to the side, Chen Kuan pressed his forehead firmly to the ground, kneeling there as if he could hear and see nothing.
After a moment, Chen Jinyu composed herself and asked, "Did he say anything else?"
"Lord Sword Saint instructed that you transport Fierce Fire Oil to Black Mountain. The more, the better!"
"Hmph! He's always ordering me to do this and that. He really has me figured out!"
Chen Jinyu stamped her foot. "Chen Kuan, contact the Western Region Merchants. Get another ten thousand jars of Fierce Fire Oil and let them haul the wine straight back. More is fine, but not less. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Chen Kuan's face lit up with joy. As expected, bringing good news came with great benefits.
By now, everyone in Guo Bei County knew that selling wine under Immortal Chen was the most promising path.
"This lowly one will certainly handle it properly. I'll squeeze every last drop of Fierce Fire Oil out of those Westerners and will never delay the affairs of the Sword Saint and Immortal Chen."
Black Mountain.
It was already deep into the latter half of the night, and Ghostly Wind howled across the mountain.
Dense, sinister yin energy shrouded the entire peak. Zhou Yi had to circulate the True Essence within his body to drive away the invading yin energy.
"The Tree Demon has managed Black Mountain for a thousand years. The entire mountain has already become a territory akin to a Daoist arena. Fighting the Tree Demon here puts me at a disadvantage from the start."
Having only just entered the Innate Realm, Zhou Yi found sword flight too costly in True Essence for travel. After leaving the city, he landed and continued on foot.
Threads of spiritual energy supported his feet, and he moved as swiftly as if flying, gliding several zhang with every step.
Lanruo Temple was close at hand when the sound of a zither suddenly entered his ears.
A woman's faint singing drifted along with the music.
"Nie Xiaoqian..."
Zhou Yi hesitated for a moment before entering Lanruo Temple directly.
He had no interest whatsoever in some human-ghost romance.
An Innate Grandmaster had an eighty or ninety percent chance of being no match for a Thousand-Year Tree Demon.
After all, Zhou Yi had personally buried Xiahou the Swordsman's bones...
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