Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent, Sacred Cleansing Waterfall

The next day.

At the Heavenly Mist Sect.

Within the Sect.

Inside the Sect Discussion Hall.

"Master, Qi Refinement Third Layer! Your disciple has reached Qi Refinement Third Layer!"

Zhang Xingfeng rushed into the hall, beside himself with excitement.

He had long hoped to receive a Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art of his own, just as Dongfang Muxue had.

Now that his Source Aspect had awakened, his wish was finally within reach. How could he not be thrilled?

"Congratulations, Senior Brother!"

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Xingfeng!"

Dongfang Muxue and Lü Liu hurried to congratulate him.

"Xingfeng, not bad! You've reached Qi Refinement Third Layer already. Were you really a mortal just half a month ago?"

"I'm starting to wonder if my Spiritual Wisdom is inferior to yours."

Mo Lingyuan teased him with a smile.

"Heh-heh..."

Zhang Xingfeng gave no answer. He turned to Li Moqing, his face full of anticipation.

"Xingfeng, what is your Source Aspect?"

Seeing how eagerly Zhang Xingfeng waited, Li Moqing asked with a solemn expression.

"Swords!"

Zhang Xingfeng answered at once.

As he spoke, he channeled Source Power. Countless swords appeared around him, a startling sight.

"Hmm..." Li Moqing pondered for a moment. "Very well. As your master, I'll give you a Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art—Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Delighted, Zhang Xingfeng withdrew his Source Aspect and thanked him.

He had no reason to doubt Li Moqing. After all, his master had already given Dongfang Muxue a Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art.

[Ding! Congratulations! Your fabrication has been believed by your direct disciple Zhang Xingfeng. The Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art "Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent" has become real. The host must write this Cultivation Art personally!]

[This fabrication has consumed the opportunity gained when Zhang Xingfeng advanced from Qi Refinement Second Layer to Third Layer. The host has no remaining opportunities to make fabrications concerning Zhang Xingfeng come true!]

The system's voice rang out, but Li Moqing remained as still as an ancient well.

He had grown used to the system requiring him to write Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Arts himself.

In fact, he had already written dozens of different Cultivation Arts and left them in his loft. All he needed was for someone to believe in one, and it would become a Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art.

"Xingfeng, wait here a moment. I'll fetch it from my loft."

With that, Li Moqing turned into a streak of light and departed.

"Yes, Master!"

Inside Li Moqing's loft.

Xingfeng has reached Qi Refinement Third Layer. With his current Spiritual Wisdom, he'll surely need a great many Source Stones to break through once he reaches the peak.

That won't do. I need to find a way to improve Xingfeng's and Lü Liu's Spiritual Wisdom.

As Li Moqing took down Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent, he mulled it over.

Hmm... Perhaps it's time to take them to North Mountain!

Inside the Sect Discussion Hall.

"Xingfeng, this is Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent. Take it."

Seated above them, Li Moqing brought out the Cultivation Art and handed it to Zhang Xingfeng.

"Yes, Master!"

Overjoyed, Zhang Xingfeng accepted it as though he had been handed a priceless treasure.

"Come with me to North Mountain to collect your allotted Sourceheart Tea. That includes you, Lü Liu."

Zhang Xingfeng had barely put away Sword's Initial Ultimate Intent when Li Moqing spoke to them. He turned into a streak of light and flew toward North Mountain.

"Yes, Master!"

"Of course, Master!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Zhang Xingfeng, Dongfang Muxue, and Mo Lingyuan broke into delighted smiles.

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

Lü Liu was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

"Get on my Purple-Gold Gourd!"

Seeing Li Moqing fly off, Mo Lingyuan called to them at once.

"Thank you, Elder Mo!"

Zhang Xingfeng, Dongfang Muxue, and Lü Liu accepted without fuss and climbed aboard.

Halfway up North Mountain.

"This? So much Sourceheart Tea? There must be over sixty thousand leaves!"

The four landed and stared in amazement at the Sourceheart Tea Trees, their branches thick with leaves.

"Five Sourceheart Tea Trees? That's two more than on Western Region Spirit Island!"

Mo Lingyuan and Lü Liu, who had only heard that the Sect possessed Sourceheart Tea without knowing the details, stared wide-eyed.

"Elder Mo, you may pick three leaves. Xingfeng and Muxue, you may each pick five. Lü Liu, you may pick one."

Li Moqing gave the instructions calmly.

"Pick carefully. Don't damage the trees."

He added the warning.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

"Of course, Master!"

The four were beside themselves with joy as they went to pick their leaves.

Their hands trembled as they picked, whether from excitement or fear of damaging the trees, they could not tell.

My monthly allowance is three Sourceheart Tea leaves. I'll drink one every half month to speed up my cultivation and save the last for breaking through a bottleneck—or keep it for later.

After picking his leaves, Mo Lingyuan placed them in his Storage Bag and considered his plans.

Zhang Xingfeng and Dongfang Muxue had no such concerns. They could collect five Sourceheart Tea leaves every month; they had no reason to worry about running short.

Lü Liu treasured hers beyond measure. She knew this single leaf was a kindness from Li Moqing, and she might never have such a chance again.

I'll keep it safe and use it only when I hit a bottleneck!

She made up her mind.

"Follow me to the waterfall on the eastern side of North Mountain."

Once the four had finished picking, Li Moqing addressed them.

He had not brought them to North Mountain today merely to distribute Sourceheart Tea. He had another purpose.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

As before, Zhang Xingfeng and the other two rode Mo Lingyuan's Purple-Gold Gourd, following Li Moqing.

On the eastern side of North Mountain.

Roar!

A curtain of water hung before them. Clouds and mist swirled around its summit, hiding where it began; it looked like the Milky Way spilling down from the ninth heaven.

The waterfall plunged with overwhelming force.

But all four looked puzzled. Why had the Sect Master brought them here?

"This is no ordinary waterfall. It is the Sacred Cleansing Waterfall."

Li Moqing glanced at the four and spoke gravely.

"The Sacred Cleansing Waterfall?"

The four exchanged bewildered looks.

"The Sacred Cleansing Waterfall's waters come from the ninth heaven. They can wash impurities from the body and improve Spiritual Wisdom."

Li Moqing continued with a perfectly serious expression.

"Wash impurities from the body and improve Spiritual Wisdom?!"

Mo Lingyuan, Dongfang Muxue, and Lü Liu cried out.

Spiritual Wisdom was ordained by heaven. As far as they knew, it could not be changed.

But then they remembered that the Sect possessed the Dao-Enlightenment Stone and the Spirit-Awakening Tree—wonders that could turn mortals into immortals and defy heaven to change one's fate. A wonder that improved Spiritual Wisdom no longer seemed so strange.

With that thought, the three no longer doubted a word Li Moqing had said.

"Master once told me North Mountain had something that could improve a cultivator's Spiritual Wisdom. So it was the Sacred Cleansing Waterfall!"

Zhang Xingfeng's words left the three more convinced than ever.

[Ding! Congratulations! Your fabrication has been believed by Zhang Xingfeng, Dongfang Muxue, Lü Liu, and Mo Lingyuan. The Sacred Cleansing Waterfall has become real!]

[Sacred Cleansing Waterfall: Washes away impurities and improves Spiritual Wisdom!]

[This fabrication has consumed the opportunity to make a fabrication concerning anyone come true, gained when Zhang Xingfeng advanced from mortal to Qi Refinement!]

[The host has one opportunity remaining to make a fabrication concerning anyone come true: from accepting Dongfang Muxue as a disciple.]

Before the system's voice had even faded, the four suddenly felt spiritual energy swirling around them. Their bodies felt wonderfully at ease, and impurities seemed to be slowly leaving them!

"What?!"

The four could not help exchanging looks.

"Mmm..."

The sudden blissful sensation even drew a sound from Zhang Xingfeng.

Seeing the strange looks Li Moqing and the others gave him, he hurriedly covered his mouth.

Mo Lingyuan, Dongfang Muxue, and Lü Liu paid Zhang Xingfeng no mind. They turned toward the Sacred Cleansing Waterfall, their eyes shining.

None of their Spiritual Wisdom had reached ten stars. Naturally, they wanted to improve it.

Lü Liu was especially eager. Like Zhang Xingfeng, she had only one-star Spiritual Wisdom and desperately needed to improve it!

"You may each come here every day to draw a bucket of water from the Sacred Cleansing Waterfall. Bathe in it to wash the impurities from your bodies."

Taking in their expressions, Li Moqing spoke with a faint smile.

"Yes, Master!"

"Of course, Master!"

"Thank you, Sect Master!"